SCOTLAND

Devolution

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the First Minister on the further devolution of powers to the Scottish Parliament.

David Cairns: This Government remains totally committed to maintaining the United Kingdom and rejects the separatists' proposals to take Scotland out of the UK, which the clear majority of Scots do not want.

National Minimum Wage

Michael Connarty: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has made an assessment of the effect of the national minimum wage upon working people in Scotland.

David Cairns: The national minimum wage is a key component of the Government's strategy to make work pay and to help people into employment. 87,000 people in Scotland will benefit from the increase to national minimum wage that will come into force on 1 October 2008.

Travellers

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps the Government is taking together with the Scottish Executive on cross-border issues in relation to Travellers.

David Cairns: Both the Scottish Executive and the Department for Communities and Local Government have programmes of work to address issues relating to Gypsy and Traveller communities, the majority of which, such as site provision, are devolved in Scotland.

Broadcasting

Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with Scottish broadcasters on the future of the industry in Scotland.

David Cairns: I have convened recent productive discussions with Scotland's broadcasters. I chaired an event in this House on 25 June, which was well attended by a number of cross-party politicians and key representatives of Scotland's broadcasting industry. I hosted a cross-party event on behalf of Ofcom (Scotland) on their Public Service Broadcasting review on 30 April.
	I met with representatives from BBC Scotland, SMG, Channel 4 and a number of representatives from the independent sector during a series of meetings in Glasgow alongside my right hon. friend, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on 12 June.

Barnett Formula

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on auditing the Barnett consequentials received by Scotland under the Barnett formula.

David Cairns: The Scottish Executive is provided with Barnett consequentials of comparable changes in provision of UK Government Departments calculated in the terms set out in the Statement of Funding Policy.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Internet

Jo Swinson: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what the Commission's policy is on what  (a) documents,  (b) information and  (c) database access to provide online.

Nick Harvey: The House of Commons Commission has adopted the policy of making the work of the House of Commons and information about that work widely accessible to the general public, including online. A project to update and modernise the parliamentary website is under way which seeks to provide the maximum level of online transparency and openness consistent with these objectives and the decisions of the House and the House of Commons Commission.

Internet

Jo Swinson: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what funding was allocated for development and maintenance of the parliament.uk website in each of the last five years.

Nick Harvey: The parliamentary website operates across both Houses of Parliament and is made up of contributions from a number of different individual sites. Not all costs are separately identifiable, as many staff contribute material to the site as part of their normal duties and these costs are not quantified. The figures that are available are as follows:
	
		
			  £000 
			  Website  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Explore Parliament 105 45 82 40 41 
			 Early Day Motions 14 14 61 61 72 
			 Internet Redesign project n/a n/a 97 1,363 2,184 
			 Other 96 84 69 138 126 
		
	
	Figures for the Internet Redesign project include staff costs for the Web Centre, the team responsible for managing the website and the parliamentary intranet.
	The Internet Redesign Project was initiated in 2006 following a resolution of the House supporting the recommendation of the Modernisation Committee for a radical upgrade of the parliamentary website. In the last two years, it has implemented a series of enhancements, including: improved design and navigation, an online calendar of parliamentary business, a new section of the site explaining the role of Parliament and their procedures, a simpler presentation of information relating to Bills before Parliament, updated committee pages including the ability to conduct online consultations, the publication of deposited papers online and a greatly improved search facility.

WALES

Apprentices

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many ( a) apprenticeships and  (b) advanced apprenticeships there were in his Department in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Paul Murphy: None.

TRANSPORT

East Coast Main Line

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will support the recent section 17 application to the Office of the Rail Regulator for enhanced route utilisation by National Express East Coast in respect of the East Coast Main Line; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: The Government welcome initiatives by train operating companies to explore opportunities to expand their services, and to provide even more benefits to their passengers than those to which they are committed by their franchise agreements.
	The decision as to whether or not to grant this application lies with the independent Office of Rail Regulation. However, the Department has no plans to object to the application.

East Coast Railway Line

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she plans to introduce a high speed rail network on the East Coast.

Tom Harris: The Secretary of State invited Network Rail to begin work to develop longer-term options for the railway network. As part of this, on 23 June 2008 Network Rail announced a strategic review of the case for new rail lines. It will consider five of Network Rail's strategic routes, north and west of London: Chiltern, East Coast, West Coast, Great Western and Midland Main Lines. It is too early to say what the results of this study will be or where any potential new lines might go. The study is expected to be complete in July 2009.

Electric Vehicles: Police

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will bring forward proposals for a police trial of electric personal assistive mobility devices as part of the roadmap process to regulatory approval.

Rosie Winterton: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Montgomeryshire (Lembit pik) on 2 July 2008,  Official Report, column 921W.

Helicopters: Greater London

Kate Hoey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether any restrictions are in place on helicopter flights over Lambeth.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Rules of the Air Regulations and the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Specified Area) Regulations govern flight by helicopters over London. The former regulations specify the minimum height at which a helicopter may operate, the latter regulations prohibit single engine helicopters from the central area of London below such a height as would enable them to alight clear of that area in the event of an engine failure.
	Helicopters are required to follow published routes over London subject to an air traffic control clearance. The routes, detailed in the UK Aeronautical Information Publication published by the CAA, are designed to provide maximum safety in respect of single engine helicopter traffic by avoiding built-up areas as much as possible. Twin engine helicopters, such as those operated by the emergency services, may be cleared to fly outside those routes according to their specific requirements and the Rules of the Air.
	In addition, an aircraft flying in accordance with the terms of a police air operator's certificate (PAOC) is exempt from certain parts of the Rules of the Air Regulations, including the low-flying rule, if the aircraft is flown in accordance with the Police Air Operations Manual (CAP 612), published by the Civil Aviation Authority (www.caa.co.uk). In London, the Metropolitan police and the Surrey police have been granted PAOCs and may be permitted to hover above particular locations depending on the operational requirement.

Landing Charges

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what information she holds on the level of landing charges to UK flights arriving at  (a) Heathrow,  (b) Toronto,  (c) Newark New Jersey,  (d) Athens,  (e) Vancouver,  (f) New York JFK,  (g) Osaka,  (h) Mexico City,  (i) Amsterdam,  (j) Vienna,  (k) Moscow,  (l) Paris CDG,  (m) Zurich,  (n) Frankfurt,  (o) Sydney,  (p) Tokyo,  (q) Brussels and  (r) Dusseldorf airports.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport does hold information about landing charges at Heathrow but does not generally hold information about landing charges at airports in other countries. Such information is available through commercial sources to which the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the independent airports regulator, has access, and which forms part of the evidence base for the CAA in carrying out its functions, such as the recent Heathrow and Gatwick price control reviews.

M60: Road Signs and Markings

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  with reference to the answer of 11 June 2008,  Official Report, column 727W, on M60: road signs and markings, whether a review of the use of scrolling arrows has been conducted since the consideration referred to in the answer; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  with reference to the answer of 5 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1180W, on M60: road signs and markings, what discussions her Department has had on legislative proposals aimed at permitting the use of scrolling arrows to direct traffic on the M60.

Tom Harris: The Highways Agency has been working closely with the Department for Transport to identify the circumstances in which scrolling arrows could be used safely and effectively. As a result, the displays have now been specially authorised for use by Highways Agency Traffic Officers on all-purpose and motorway trunk roads in England. The authorisation, under section 64 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, was issued on 2 July 2008.

Motor Vehicles: Excise Duties

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many times the online vehicle excise duty website was unavailable in each of the last 24 months.

Jim Fitzpatrick: There have been 482 outages of service during the last 24 months. Of these, 418 were for planned maintenance work, 32 were due to third party failure and a further 32 were unplanned outages.

Peterborough Railway Station

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will hold discussions with Network Rail on the redevelopment of Peterborough railway station in the near future; and if she will make a statement.

Tom Harris: While the Secretary of State has no specific plans to discuss the redevelopment of Peterborough station with Network Rail, Peterborough has been identified by the industry as a candidate station for funding from the National Stations Improvement Programme. The final selection of stations will be influenced by, among other things, the extent to which third party fundingfrom local authorities and the private sectoris secured to supplement the industry's own proposals.

Railways: Colchester

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations she has received on the effects of the weekend works on the Colchester to Clacton-on-Sea and Colchester to Walton-on-the-Naze line on the number of weekend visitors to the area; and what assessment she has made of the effects of the works on the local economy.

Tom Harris: None. The timing of engineering works is an operational matter for Network Rail under the possessions regime overseen by the independent Office of Rail Regulation. Passengers are understandably frustrated by line closures, but there is no easy time to carry out major engineering works. Disruption is an unfortunate but sometimes unavoidable consequence of maintenance work essential for the continuing drive to deliver a safer and more reliable rail network.

Safety Belts

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the  (a) front and  (b) rear seat belt wearing rates are among (i) males and (ii) females, broken down by age group were in each of the last five years for which information is available; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Seat belt wearing surveys undertaken for the Department include information on seat belt usage rates by seating position, age and gender. The most recent publication, Lf2102 (with results at October 2007) reported relevant wearing rates as follows:
	
		
			  Table 3: Wearing rates, by sex and age, October 2007 
			  Percentage 
			   Male  Female  Either 
			  Driver
			 17-29 91 97 94 
			 30-59 91 97 94 
			 60+ 95 97 96 
			 
			  Front seat passenger
			 0-13 97 98 97 
			 14-29 86 94 91 
			 30-59 92 96 95 
			 60+ 96 98 97 
			 
			  Rear seat passenger
			 0-13 96 95 96 
			 14-29 64 70 68 
			 30-59 58 70 66 
			 60+ 76 76 76 
		
	
	That publication is available on-line at:
	www.trl.co.uk/store/report_list.asp?pid=211
	and is free of charge. Earlier publications Lf2099 and Lf2096 contain survey results back to 2003. These are available from the same website address.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Publicity

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what evaluation of the Year of Food and Farming his Department plans to undertake.

Jonathan R Shaw: As there are a wide range of stakeholders and investors contributing to the Year of Food and Farming, there is a great sense of accountability by the delivery group to partners. For this reason, a detailed final summary report will be produced later this year to outline the difference that the year will have made; where the money was spent and how it added value.

Apprentices

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many  (a) apprenticeships and  (b) advanced apprenticeships there were in (i) his Department and (ii) the agencies for which he is responsible in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Jonathan R Shaw: DEFRA has expressed its interest to the Sector Skills Council for Central Government in taking part in the Pathfinder Apprenticeships Scheme. Following the evaluation of the pilot scheme, DEFRA will decide how best to incorporate apprenticeships into the corporate departmental skills strategy in 2009.
	DEFRA recognises the importance of trying to increase the number of people in public sector with a NVQ at level 2 and 3. Core DEFRA and its agencies will be looking for ways to use the prospectus and work with the Learning Skills Council to increase the number of apprenticeships in the coming year.
	The Animal Health Agency are keeping a watching brief on the Civil Service West Midlands programme to ascertain if and how it could be used in their organisation.

Cattle: Disease Control

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost of the Older Cattle Disposal Scheme was in  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: For the 2006-07 financial year the gross expenditure on the Older Cattle Disposal Scheme amounted to 67.044 million. The provisional accounts for 2007-08 financial year show an expenditure of 52.469 million.

Cattle: Imports

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 1 July 2008,  Official Report, column 768W, on cattle: imports, if he will break down the number of cattle imported in each year by country of origin.

Jonathan R Shaw: The following table gives the number of live cattle recorded as imported into the UK in 2005, 2006 and 2007 by country of despatch.
	Please note these figures are obtained using VAT records and will exclude some EU trade for businesses which are below the VAT threshold. As a result, actual trade levels may be higher than those given.
	
		
			   Country of despatch  Live cattle imports  (Number of head) 
			 2005 Irish Republic s 3639 
			  Denmark 1,415 
			  Netherlands 222 
			  France 95 
			  Germany 84 
			 2006 Irish Republic 5,171 
			  Netherlands 2,181 
			  Denmark 451 
			  France 390 
			  Germany 66 
			  Sweden 2 
			 2007 Irish Republic 9,307 
			  France 410 
			  Netherlands 298 
			  Denmark 87 
			  Italy 1 
			  Source: H M Revenue and Customs. Data prepared by Trade statistics, Agricultural Statistics and Analysis, DEFRA. 2007 data are subject to amendments.

Cetaceans

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many coastal cetacean strandings there have been in each  (a) year since 2004 and  (b) month in 2008; and how many of these are estimated to be the result of fishing activity in each such period.

Jonathan R Shaw: All data on cetacean strandings across the UK, up to and including 2007 data, are publicly available on the DEFRA website in the form of UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP) Annual report.
	Figures for 2008 are currently being collated and will be available on the DEFRA website in 2009.

Climate Change: EU Action

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the UK will be participating in the conference to be held in Reunion from 7 to 11 July on the EU and its overseas entities strategies to counter climate change and biodiversity loss.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 8 July 2008
	We welcome the conference on the EU and its Overseas EntitiesStrategies to Counter Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss, which is being convened in Reunion as an official event under the French presidency of the European Union.
	The United Kingdom is being represented at this important meeting by an official from the Department's international biodiversity team, accompanied by two colleagues from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, the statutory adviser to Government on UK and international conservation.

Coastal Areas: Security

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to paragraph 3.22 of the National Security Strategy of the United Kingdom, Cm 7291, which coastal areas of the UK he judges to be at the greatest risk; and what strategy he is pursuing to reduce the risk.

Phil Woolas: Sea level rise and increasing storm activity are the key elements of coastal risk. The combined effect of these are generally greatest along the Anglian and south east coastlines, where there are extensive areas of low-lying land and where the impact of rising sea levels is exacerbated as the land is also sinking due to tectonic plate movement. The soft nature of the cliffs on the south and east coasts means that these areas are also at greatest risk of erosion.
	The Environment Agency works with local authorities and others with an interest through coastal groups to prepare Shoreline Management Plans. These cover the entire coast of England and Wales and define the coastal management policies for each section of coast. They inform the Local Development Frameworks which direct development and regeneration of coastal communities. Detailed strategies and investment schemes enable these policies to be put into practice.

Departmental ICT

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many of his Department's staff have access to the Department's IT infrastructure at home.

Jonathan R Shaw: All public servants that access the DEFRA infrastructure in the office are able to register for remote access. The number that have used the facility within the last month is approximately 2,000.

Departmental ICT

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the value of his Department's computer systems  (a) was at the time of purchase and  (b) is now.

Jonathan R Shaw: DEFRA outsourced IT service provision to IBM in 2004. Under this contract the Department pay an annual fee for provision and maintenance of IT systems.
	Apart from the IBM contract there are also IT assets owned by the Department. The value at time of purchase and current value of these is disclosed in the DEFRA published accounts which are available in the House Library.

Departmental Vocational Training

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for what proportion of its staff his Department has provided vocational training in the last three years.

Jonathan R Shaw: There are no records of any vocational training resulting in national vocational qualifications being funded by the corporate centre in DEFRA in the past three years. This is a reflection of the current skills entry level for the core Department.
	DEFRA recognises the importance of trying to increase the number of people in the private sector with NVQs and will be working with its agencies to consider ways to incorporate apprenticeships into the 2009-10 DEFRA departmental skills strategy.

Flood Control: Planning

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 1 July 2008,  Official Report, column 776W, on flood control: planning, what his definition is of inappropriate development in flood risk areas; in what circumstances development in flood risk areas would be required; and where a development is to be constructed so it is resilient to flooding, which body determines the resilience of the structure and the products used.

Iain Wright: I have been asked to reply.
	Planning Policy Statement (PPS)25, Development and Flood Risk, provides the policy framework for local planning authorities to avoid, manage and reduce flood risk to new development, guided by the advice of the Environment Agency, which must be consulted on all planning applications in these areas.
	PPS25 sets out a sequential test to steer new development to areas at the lowest probability of flooding. Applying the PPS25 risk-based sequential approach, development would be inappropriate in flood risk areas where there are reasonably available sites in areas with a lower probability of flooding. Where the sequential test shows there are no lower risk alternatives, development vulnerable to flooding would only be appropriate if it passed the PPS25 exception test. The exception test is that the need for the development outweighs the flood risk, it is on previously developed land where this is available, it will be safe, and it will not increase flood risk elsewhere.
	Local planning authorities determining planning applications should ensure that all new development in flood risk areas is appropriately flood resilient and resistant. Developers are responsible for ensuring the design and construction are carried out in a way which delivers appropriate flood resilience and satisfies the relevant planning authority. Government have produced a guide, Improving the Flood Performance of New Buildings, which developers and planners can refer to for help in identifying appropriate solutions.

Grasslands: Nature Conservation

Elliot Morley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the potential for re-creation of  (a) lowland dry acid grassland,  (b) lowland raised bog and  (c) lowland heathland on land owned or managed by (i) the Forestry Commission for England and (ii) other departments or agencies.

Joan Ruddock: The potential for re-creation of these habitats on land owned or managed by Government Departments is being assessed as part of the Forestry Commission's process for developing Government policy on restoration of open habitats from woods and forests in England.
	For the land managed by the Forestry Commission in England a comprehensive assessment of potential is being carried out using existing records and new information that is being added to their Geographic Information System. This will be completed by October 2008.
	As regards the Ministry of Defence (MOD) no formal assessments have been undertaken on the re-creation of these habitats across the estate. The MOD requires the use of a matrix of varied habitats to provide realistic landscapes to support military training. The restoration of natural habitats is not always consistent with this requirement. Opportunities for habitat restoration, are considered within the Integrated Rural Management Plans which MOD has committed to write for all sites with significant biodiversity interest.
	The land owned or directly managed by Natural England is in the National Nature Reserve estate. These are declared because the habitats they contain are already of high biodiversity value, so management aims to maintain and enhance the existing habitats rather than significantly alter them.
	The area of potential habitat owned by other Government Departments or agencies is considered inconsequential on a national scale.

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many  (a) pensioner and  (b) other households received support from the Warm Front scheme in each parliamentary constituency in the last five years.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 8 July 2008
	Unfortunately it is not possible to provide the data my hon. Friend has requested in the exact form specified.

Housing: Low Incomes

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much he has allocated to rural housing enablers for 2009-10.

Jonathan R Shaw: DEFRA has allocated no funds to rural housing enablers (RHEs) for 2009-10.
	DEFRA has never had a funding stream allocated specifically for RHEs. In April 2006 DEFRA launched the Rural Social and Community Programme (RSCP) which provided investment funding for locally-defined priorities set by partnerships of local organisations. Some of these partnerships developed time-limited projects involving RHEs.
	The RSCP came to a long-anticipated conclusion in March 2008. It was always very explicit that there would be no commitment to fund any projects under the RSCP beyond the two-year programme. Indeed, the guidance for those seeking funding under the RSCP noted that all projects should draw up an 'exit strategy' to identify how they would develop beyond the time-limited period of that programme.
	The work done by RHEs is now funded in a wide variety of ways across the country. The clear vision for the long-term funding of RHEs has always been that they should be supported at local level by the very local authorities and housing associations whose rural delivery they exist to support. I am pleased to note that in many areas across the country this is happening. Ultimately however, these are decisions for local delivery agents to take in the light of local needs and circumstances.

Primates

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many animals of each species of primate were imported to the UK to be sold as pets in each of the last 10 years, broken down by country of origin; and what steps are taken to monitor the whereabouts of such animals.

Jonathan R Shaw: While we record the purpose for which primates are imported, imports for sale are simply recorded as imports for trade purposes, and there is no way to distinguish whether that sale will be for the animal to be kept as a pet, for research or for display in a zoo.
	As primates are a rabies-susceptible mammal, primates imported to be sold as pets must undergo a period of six months quarantine. After this period, their locations are not tracked.

Primates

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how many primates were bred in the UK to be sold as pets in each of the last 10 years;
	(2)  how many primates are kept as pets in England.

Jonathan R Shaw: DEFRA does not maintain records of primates kept as pets.

Primates

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when codes for primate-keeping under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 will be published; and when they will be brought into force.

Jonathan R Shaw: As a result of concerns raised during the passage of the Animal Welfare Act through Parliament, the Government intend to introduce a code of practice on the keeping of primates as pets. It is anticipated that this will restrict the keeping of primates by private keepers to specialists.
	The code will be subject to public consultation and parliamentary scrutiny. Preliminary work has been completed and DEFRA officials and Ministers will shortly consider how this work is to be progressed. Until this review has been completed it would not be appropriate to make any further commitments as to the date of its introduction.

Primates

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what interim measures are being taken to safeguard the welfare of primate pets prior to the Animal Welfare Act 2006 codes coming into force.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Animal Welfare Act 2006 provides protection to animals that are in the control of man or animals that are commonly domesticated in the British isles. Typically, the Act protects pet animals, farmed animals, wild animals in captivity (e.g. wild animals in sanctuaries) and, in relation to cruelty offences, feral animals commonly domesticated in the British isles.
	It therefore provides that primates are protected by the Act, which prevents unnecessary cruelty or suffering to any vertebrate animal. In addition, the Act introduced a new 'duty of care' for any animal under the control of man, which makes owners and keepers responsible for ensuring that the welfare needs of their animals are met.

Red Squirrels

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how often the size of the population of the red squirrel is estimated; and when it was last estimated;
	(2)  what steps the Government are taking to monitor and control the red squirrel population under the Bern convention.

Joan Ruddock: There is no reliable estimate of the red squirrel population because it is very difficult to carry out an accurate census. In the areas where red squirrel populations remain, the densities can vary between one and 0.1 squirrels per hectare. Numbers are subject to significant fluctuation depending on environmental factors and breeding success.
	Red squirrels are not controlled under the Bern convention. They are a protected species under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and are the subject of a species action plan (SAP) as part of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.

Squirrels

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consideration he has made of the merits of extending the period in which warfarin may be used for the control of grey squirrels beyond autumn and winter.

Joan Ruddock: No consideration has been given to extending the period in which Warfarin can be used. The increased use of Warfarin would go against the stringent requirement in the UK Woodland Assurance Standard for pesticides reduction.

Summertime: Energy

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will commission research on the effects on UK energy consumption of a change to British Summer Time in winter and double British Summer Time in summer.

Patrick McFadden: I have been asked to reply.
	There are no plans to change the current summer time arrangements or to undertake additional research as the Government are not convinced that a change would be in the best interests of the UK.

Water Supply

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the volume of average water leakages per megalitre per day was in each of the last five years, broken down by  (a) distribution and  (b) supply infrastructure.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 8 July 2008
	The table shows total industry leakage broken down into distribution losses (leakage from company-side pipes) and underground supply pipe leakage (losses from customer supply pipes) for the years 2002-03 to 2006-07. Ofwat is currently collecting the figures for 2007-08.
	
		
			  Total industry leakage 2002-03 to 2006-07 (megalitres per day) 
			   Distribution losses (mega litres per day)  Underground supply pipe leakage (mega litres per day)  Total Leakage (mega litres per day) 
			 2002-03 2,606 1,000 3,605 
			 2003-04 2,625 1,024 3,649 
			 2004-05 2,584 1,024 3,608 
			 2005-06 2,610 966 3,576 
			 2006-07 2,545 873 3,418 
		
	
	These figures are published in Ofwat's 'Security of supply 2006-07 report' available on Ofwat's website.

Water Supply: Compensation

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the levels of compensation paid by water companies to their customers were last reviewed; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 8 July 2008
	Ofwat last reviewed the Guaranteed Standards Scheme Regulations in November 2005 in the consultation document 'Dealing with customers affected by sewer flooding and the guaranteed standards schemea review'.

Water: Meters

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what plans he has to discuss water metering arrangements with water companies;
	(2)  if he will hold discussions with water companies to encourage them to introduce a regime of lower charges for occupants of small flats who are unable to install water meters.

Phil Woolas: Discussions have been held with the water industry on accelerating metering through the Water Resources Management Plans process. Those companies operating in 'areas of serious water stress', as designated by the Secretary of State for this purpose, can make proposals to accelerate metering where there is a water resources case to do so. Where the case is sufficiently robust company proposals will be allowed to proceed.
	As we announced in our water strategy Future Water, the Government have commissioned an independent review to advise on metering and charging, looking in particular at social, economic and environmental concerns. The review is due to start shortly.
	Where a customer requests to have a water meter installed, water companies can refuse to do so where it is impracticable or unreasonably expensive to install. Where a company is unable to install a meter (and a single shared meter is not feasible, for example for a block of flats), companies must offer an 'assessed charge'. Assessed charges should be a better reflection of customers' consumption than their unmeasured charges. Companies use a number of different methods for determining assessed charges; for example:
	charges based on the type of property;
	a fixed charge based on a reasonable assumption of the amount of water customers typically use;
	occupancy based charges; and
	charges based on an assessment of the customer's usage.
	Ofwat, the economic regulator of the water and sewerage sectors in England and Wales, checks and approves each company's charges every year. It also determines any reported disputes from customers regarding a company's decision to refuse their request to have a meter installed.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcoholic Drinks: Crimes of Violence

Don Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of violent offences in England and Wales were related to  (a) alcohol abuse and  (b) use of illegal drugs in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: The following table shows the percentage of violent offences in England and Wales estimated by the British Crime Survey, in each of the last five years, where the victims believed the offender or offenders to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
	
		
			  Percentage of violent incidents where the victim believed the offender(s) to be under the  influence of alcohol or drugs, 2002-03 to 2006-07 BCS ,  England and Wales 
			  Percentage and number ( T housand) 
			   Interviews 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Under influence of alcohol 45 51 49 45 46 
			 Under influence of drugs 20 20 18 23 17 
			 Unweighted base 1,397 1,398 1,455 1,512 1,658

Alcoholic Drinks: Domestic Violence

Don Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of domestic violence offences were related to  (a) alcohol abuse and  (b) use of illegal drugs in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: The following table shows the percentage of domestic violent offences in England and Wales estimated by the British Crime Survey, in each of the last five years, where the victims believed the offender or offenders to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
	It should be noted that these estimates are obtained from face-to-face interviews with victims of domestic violence and thus some caution is required as victims may not wish to disclose such sensitive information. In addition, the percentage estimates are based on small numbers of victims sampled and will fluctuate from year to year due to random variation.
	
		
			  Percentage of domestic violent incidents where the victim believed the offender(s) to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, 2002-03 to 2006-07 BCS ,  England and Wales 
			  Percentage and number  ( T housand ) 
			   Interviews 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Under influence of alcohol 42 47 53 46 39 
			 Under influence of drugs 11 10 11 12 15 
			 Unweighted base 259 258 256 251 266

Deportation: Grants

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what average amount was paid to people leaving the UK under the Facilitated Returns Scheme in each month since its inception, broken down by country of destination;
	(2)  how many people have left the UK under the Facilitated Returns Scheme in each month since its inception, broken down by country of destination.

Jacqui Smith: Most recent figures show that between 1 November 2006 and 31 October 2007 around 350,000 has been spent on FRS, which includes administrative costs. For the same period 880 foreign national prisoners left the UK under the scheme. This represents considerable savings for the taxpayer in detention costs alone.
	The chief executive of the UK Border Agency wrote to the Home Affairs Committee on 18 February and advised them that, as of 28 January 2008, there were around 1,200 foreign national prisoners removed under the scheme. She will continue to update the Home Affairs Committee with the most robust and accurate information available on the deportation of foreign national prisoners as requested.

Detection Rates

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the detection rate for  (a) reported crimes,  (b) violent crimes,  (c) burglaries and  (d) acts of theft in (i) each police force area and (ii) England and Wales was in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 20 June 2008
	The available information is given in the following tables. A number of changes have been made to recorded crime in response to suggestions in the two reviews of crime statistics. One such change is that the term 'violent crime' is no longer used in connection with the recorded crime statistics and we now provide figures for violence against the person.
	Non-sanction detections that contribute to the overall detection rate have fallen in recent years reflecting a significant shift by many police forces away from recording detections of crime where no further action is taken. For this reason overall detection rates over time are not fully comparable. From 1 April 2007 the rules governing recording of non-sanction detections were revised to reduce the scope within which they can be claimed to a very limited set of circumstances.
	
		
			  Table 1: Overall detection rates for all recorded offences by police force area 2002-03 to 2006-07 
			  Percentage 
			  Police force area  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Avon and Somerset 15 15 17 23 24 
			 Bedfordshire 26 23 28 25 22 
			 British Transport Police 15 16 17 20 24 
			 Cambridgeshire 22 23 23 27 25 
			 Cheshire 26 27 26 27 27 
			 Cleveland 23 21 24 30 31 
			 Cumbria 31 32 30 35 36 
			 Derbyshire 26 25 28 27 26 
			 Devon and Cornwall 29 29 30 28 27 
			 Dorset 25 26 28 30 30 
			 Durham 34 29 29 27 30 
			 Dyfed-Powys 68 47 43 45 45 
			 Essex 27 28 27 31 33 
			 Gloucestershire 29 28 27 32 33 
			 Greater Manchester 22 22 23 25 25 
			 Gwent 48 45 42 36 33 
			 Hampshire 30 27 28 24 23 
			 Hertfordshire 23 25 29 26 29 
			 Humberside 20 19 20 23 25 
			 Kent 28 25 23 26 26 
			 Lancashire 27 27 30 32 35 
			 Leicestershire 27 22 25 30 28 
			 Lincolnshire 23 22 25 26 28 
			 London, City of 36 33 36 43 39 
			 Merseyside 25 27 30 28 29 
			 Metropolitan Police 14 15 21 24 21 
			 Norfolk 24 26 28 31 30 
			 Northamptonshire 28 28 29 25 26 
			 Northumbria 31 30 29 35 40 
			 North Wales 29 33 42 43 48 
			 North Yorkshire 26 28 35 35 33 
			 Nottinghamshire 16 18 20 22 23 
			 South Wales 29 29 29 26 25 
			 South Yorkshire 21 24 26 27 26 
			 Staffordshire 31 33 35 35 35 
			 Suffolk 34 33 32 30 31 
			 Surrey 22 22 26 25 30 
			 Sussex 24 24 25 30 31 
			 Thames Valley 25 23 26 28 25 
			 Warwickshire 26 25 27 25 27 
			 West Mercia 33 31 34 34 34 
			 West Midlands 26 25 23 26 27 
			 West Yorkshire 20 20 25 28 29 
			 Wiltshire 28 28 29 32 26 
			 England and Wales 23 23 26 27 27 
			  Note: It should be noted that non-sanction detections that contribute to the overall detection rate have fallen in recent years reflecting a significant shift by many police forces away from recording detections of crime where no further action is taken. For this reason overall detection rates over time are not fully comparable. From 1 April 2007 the rules governing recording of non-sanction detections were revised to reduce the scope within which they can be claimed to a very limited set of circumstances. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Overall detection rates for violence against the person offences by police force area 2002-03 to 2006-07 
			  Percentage 
			  Police force area  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Avon and Somerset 28 26 27 38 42 
			 Bedfordshire 58 52 58 55 51 
			 British Transport Police 35 35 37 43 50 
			 Cambridgeshire 58 52 51 58 55 
			 Cheshire 69 66 59 52 52 
			 Cleveland 55 46 50 59 63 
			 Cumbria 73 66 55 62 64 
			 Derbyshire 61 57 57 52 49 
			 Devon and Cornwall 55 54 57 50 48 
			 Dorset 64 52 49 54 57 
			 Durham 80 73 65 54 64 
			 Dyfed-Powys 95 68 66 68 66 
			 Essex 71 69 63 69 69 
			 Gloucestershire 58 55 52 55 56 
			 Greater Manchester 64 58 54 58 55 
			 Gwent 78 81 74 70 63 
			 Hampshire 70 51 51 46 44 
			 Hertfordshire 66 64 68 60 57 
			 Humberside 52 38 38 47 49 
			 Kent 61 54 46 49 49 
			 Lancashire 61 50 56 60 61 
			 Leicestershire 54 38 40 51 47 
			 Lincolnshire 48 46 52 55 57 
			 London, City of 58 55 64 72 66 
			 Merseyside 60 64 68 54 55 
			 Metropolitan Police 24 26 43 45 31 
			 Norfolk 56 56 55 60 56 
			 Northamptonshire 70 64 69 60 60 
			 Northumbria 64 61 57 65 70 
			 North Wales 61 71 81 77 82 
			 North Yorkshire 67 67 77 75 70 
			 Nottinghamshire 46 50 53 53 54 
			 South Wales 69 69 68 56 54 
			 South Yorkshire 63 64 59 57 54 
			 Staffordshire 69 70 67 67 65 
			 Suffolk 78 68 66 59 65 
			 Surrey 58 61 59 56 59 
			 Sussex 63 60 52 55 57 
			 Thames Valley 61 51 52 59 49 
			 Warwickshire 70 60 63 59 58 
			 West Mercia 70 66 71 67 65 
			 West Midlands 57 51 46 50 47 
			 West Yorkshire 65 47 51 49 54 
			 Wiltshire 60 62 67 69 55 
			 England and Wales 54 50 53 54 51 
			  Note: It should be noted that non-sanction detections that contribute to the overall detection rate have fallen in recent years reflecting a significant shift by many police forces away from recording detections of crime where no further action is taken. For this reason overall detection rates over time are not fully comparable. From 1 April 2007 the rules governing recording of non-sanction detections were revised to reduce the scope within which they can be claimed to a very limited set of circumstances 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Overall detection rates for all burglary offences by police force area 2002-03 to 2006-07 
			  Percentage 
			  Police force area  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Avon and Somerset 12 13 10 14 12 
			 Bedfordshire 15 11 15 14 9 
			 British Transport Police 9 9 8 11 11 
			 Cambridgeshire 13 16 15 15 12 
			 Cheshire 14 15 16 17 15 
			 Cleveland 11 11 13 13 13 
			 Cumbria 13 16 13 17 14 
			 Derbyshire 13 11 12 15 15 
			 Devon and Cornwall 14 14 13 13 14 
			 Dorset 12 14 18 16 13 
			 Durham 16 13 14 13 14 
			 Dyfed-Powys 39 26 21 22 26 
			 Essex 13 12 12 14 14 
			 Gloucestershire 20 17 12 16 17 
			 Greater Manchester 7 8 9 10 11 
			 Gwent 35 33 29 22 18 
			 Hampshire 15 15 17 12 12 
			 Hertfordshire 15 17 21 12 17 
			 Humberside 9 10 10 10 12 
			 Kent 14 12 10 11 13 
			 Lancashire 16 17 17 20 24 
			 Leicestershire 16 12 13 15 17 
			 Lincolnshire 13 11 9 9 11 
			 London, City of 38 17 25 52 43 
			 Merseyside 12 14 16 10 11 
			 Metropolitan Police 13 12 13 15 16 
			 Norfolk 11 13 13 16 14 
			 Northamptonshire 13 16 12 11 11 
			 Northumbria 14 15 12 17 20 
			 North Wales 13 17 21 19 21 
			 North Yorkshire 11 13 13 14 11 
			 Nottinghamshire 8 9 8 10 9 
			 South Wales 15 14 14 14 11 
			 South Yorkshire 8 13 16 16 14 
			 Staffordshire 14 16 16 16 16 
			 Suffolk 15 13 14 10 13 
			 Surrey 9 10 11 10 12 
			 Sussex 10 13 11 13 14 
			 Thames Valley 15 13 14 14 13 
			 Warwickshire 14 12 18 11 12 
			 West Mercia 13 12 15 17 15 
			 West Midlands 15 15 9 9 10 
			 West Yorkshire 11 10 15 17 17 
			 Wiltshire 16 13 15 16 13 
			 England and Wales 12 13 13 14 14 
			  Note: It should be noted that non-sanction detections that contribute to the overall detection rate have fallen in recent years reflecting a significant shift by many police forces away from recording detections of crime where no further action is taken. For this reason overall detection rates over time are not fully comparable. From 1 April 2007 the rules governing recording of non-sanction detections were revised to reduce the scope within which they can be claimed to a very limited set of circumstances. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 4: Overall detection rates for all thefts by police force area 2002-03 to 2006-07 
			  Percentage 
			  Police force area  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Avon and Somerset 11 10 12 16 17 
			 Bedfordshire 18 18 19 17 15 
			 British Transport Police 7 6 6 8 9 
			 Cambridgeshire 14 15 16 19 17 
			 Cheshire 18 18 18 20 21 
			 Cleveland 21 18 19 22 25 
			 Cumbria 22 24 24 28 28 
			 Derbyshire 17 16 18 18 18 
			 Devon and Cornwall 19 19 19 20 20 
			 Dorset 16 17 19 21 19 
			 Durham 24 20 22 19 21 
			 Dyfed-Powys 46 30 27 29 29 
			 Essex 17 17 17 20 24 
			 Gloucestershire 20 22 20 23 31 
			 Greater Manchester 14 15 15 16 16 
			 Gwent 35 33 33 27 24 
			 Hampshire 20 19 19 17 15 
			 Hertfordshire 18 17 19 17 20 
			 Humberside 15 15 15 16 18 
			 Kent 20 18 17 20 20 
			 Lancashire 20 20 23 25 29 
			 Leicestershire 20 17 20 21 21 
			 Lincolnshire 17 16 18 18 21 
			 London, City of 21 19 17 19 20 
			 Merseyside 18 18 19 17 21 
			 Metropolitan Police 8 8 10 11 10 
			 Norfolk 16 18 20 22 23 
			 Northamptonshire 22 23 21 19 20 
			 Northumbria 24 23 23 27 35 
			 North Wales 20 22 29 32 36 
			 North Yorkshire 17 19 21 22 21 
			 Nottinghamshire 12 13 13 14 14 
			 South Wales 17 18 17 17 16 
			 South Yorkshire 16 19 20 21 21 
			 Staffordshire 22 22 23 22 24 
			 Suffolk 22 20 20 20 19 
			 Surrey 13 13 14 14 17 
			 Sussex 14 14 15 18 19 
			 Thames Valley 18 16 18 17 15 
			 Warwickshire 17 17 19 16 18 
			 West Mercia 23 22 24 27 26 
			 West Midlands 19 18 15 17 19 
			 West Yorkshire 15 14 19 22 22 
			 Wiltshire 18 19 20 20 18 
			 England and Wales 16 15 16 18 18 
			  Note: It should be noted that non-sanction detections that contribute to the overall detection rate have fallen in recent years reflecting a significant shift by many police forces away from recording detections of crime where no further action is taken. For this reason overall detection rates over time are not fully comparable. From 1 April 2007 the rules governing recording of non-sanction detections were revised to reduce the scope within which they can be claimed to a very limited set of circumstances.

Driving: Disqualification

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department takes to prevent disqualified drivers from driving.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 8 July 2008
	Driving while disqualified is a criminal offence carrying a penalty of a maximum fine of 5,000 or six months imprisonment or both. How the offence is enforced is an operational matter for the police. We have supported the growing use by the police of automatic number plate recognition technology. These enable the rapid identification of vehicles of potential interest, including those linked with a disqualified driver. We have given police the power to seize immediately vehicles that are being driven by someone otherwise than in accordance with a licence or who does not have insurance and to return them only on production of licence and insurance.

Hunting: Foxes

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were charged with offences relating to fox hunting in each police force area in each of the last two years.

Vernon Coaker: Information on the number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts under the Hunting Act 2004 in 2005 and 2006, broken down by police force area, is provided in the following table. Statistics for court proceedings in 2007 will be published in the autumn.
	The figures provided relate to the principal offence for which persons were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	
		
			  Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences under the Hunting Act 2004, England and Wales 2005 and 2006( 1, 2, 3) 
			  Police force area  2005  2006 
			 Cheshire  2 
			 Durham  1 
			 Essex  4 
			 Humberside  4 
			 Merseyside 1  
			 Thames Valley 2  
			 England and Wales 3 11 
			 (1 )These data are on the principal offence basis. (2 )Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3 )Where a police force area is not listed in the table then no prosecutions have been reported to the Ministry of Justice  Source:  Court proceedings databaseCriminal Justice Evidence and AnalysisOffice for Criminal Justice Reform

Offenders: Deportation

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people who left the UK under the Facilitated Returns Scheme were arrested  (a) trying to re-enter the UK and  (b) while in the UK in each month since its inception.

Jacqui Smith: Obtaining the information requested would require the detailed examination of individual casefiles at disproportionate cost. All individuals who leave the United Kingdom under the Facilitated Returns scheme are fingerprinted and excluded from the country and placed on watch lists in order to prevent them from returning to the United Kingdom after they are removed.
	The chief executive of the UK Border Agency wrote to the Home Affairs Committee on 18 February and advised them that, as of 28 January 2008, there were around 1,200 foreign national prisoners removed under the scheme. She will continue to update the Home Affairs Committee with the most robust and accurate information available on the deportation of foreign national prisoners as requested.

Sexual Offences: Travel Restrictions

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many registered sex offenders are known to have travelled abroad without informing the police.

Vernon Coaker: The number of registered sex offenders travelling without first notifying their intention to do so is not currently collated.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of meeting urgent operational requirements in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan was in each year from 2001-02 to 2007-08; what provision he has made for meeting such requirements in (i) 2008-09, (ii) 2009-10, (iii) 2010-11, (iv) 2011-12 and (v) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.

Des Browne: For the cost of urgent operational requirements (UORs) approved from 2001-02 to 2007-08, I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 1 May 2008,  Official Report, column 594W, to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox). These costs are for UORs in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
	We have agreed with HM Treasury an estimate for Reserve expenditure on UORs in 2008-09 of 900 million. We have not made any estimates for potential UOR costs beyond this. UORs are designed to fulfil unforeseeable urgent capability gaps identified by commanders in the field driven by the situation on the ground, and as such can only be forecast with limited accuracy.

Armed Forces: Health Services

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much service personnel in  (a) the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine at Selly Oak Hospital and  (b) Headley Court rehabilitation centre are charged for use of (i) television, (ii) internet and (iii) telephone services per (A) minute, (B) 20 minutes, (C) 30 minutes, (D) 45 minutes and (E) hour.

Derek Twigg: Telephone, television and internet services are not charged at Selly Oak on the basis requested. However, military patients benefit from casualty welfare package including a daily payment towards meeting these costs.
	At Headley Court, which is a military establishment, television and internet are provided in communal areas without charge. There is also a payphone provided for their use.

Armed Forces: Health Services

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library the latest Defence Medical Services Continuous Attitude Survey.

Derek Twigg: I have placed in the Library of the House the result reports of the latest Defence Medical Services Regular and Reservists Continuous Attitude Surveys, conducted during May and June 2007.

Armed Forces: Health Services

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what provision the Government has made for the healthcare of service personnel serving overseas.

Derek Twigg: The MOD aims to ensure that members of the armed forces serving overseas (other than those on operational deployments) have access to a range of medical and dental services that are wherever practicable broadly equivalent to those available in the UK through the NHS.
	Primary care services (including dental treatment) will normally be provided by medical centres located in the major base areas, or through arrangements with local providers. Secondary care will normally be provided through arrangements with local medical services, or (for personnel based in Gibraltar and Cyprus) through military hospital facilities run by the Defence Medical Services (DMS).
	The DMS also have two regional rehabilitation units in Germany, at Gutersloh and Hohne, which provide specialist treatment for musculoskeletal and similar injuries. Finally, there are DMS Community Mental Health Teams in Germany, Cyprus and Gibraltar.
	For members of the armed forces on operational deployment, the DMS provides basic primary care. Depending on the scale and type of operation, other provision will include appropriate emergency treatment for those who become ill or injured, including the initial management of combat casualties and emergency surgery in field hospital facilities. Again depending on the scale and type of operation, further in-theatre care may be available, for example from deployed rehabilitation and mental health teams. Personnel who are unable for any medical reason to carry out their designated operational role (either through wounding, other injury or illness) will be returned to the UK for any necessary treatment and longer-term care.

Armed Forces: Housing

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many units of  (a) single living accommodation and  (b) service family accommodation in (i) Germany, (ii) Cyprus, (iii) Gibraltar and (iv) the Falkland Islands there are in each grade for charge classification; and what percentage of the total each represents.

Derek Twigg: Service family accommodation (SFA) and single living accommodation (SLA) in Germany, Cyprus, Gibraltar and the Falkland/Ascension Islands (SAI) are currently at the following grades:
	
		
			   Germany  Percentage  Cyprus  Percentage  Gibraltar  Percentage  SAI  Percentage 
			  SFA 
			 Grade 1 2,212 17 0 0 82 17 0 0 
			 Grade 2 6,010 47 504 28 66 14 0 0 
			 Grade 3 3,481 27 140 8 90 19 0 0 
			 Grade 4 1,149 9 1,187 64 239 50 80 100 
			  
			  SLA 
			 Grade 1 2,540 17 60 4 0 0 0 0 
			 Grade 2 1,530 10 0 0 230 74 0 0 
			 Grade 3 4,380 28 370 26 80 26 0 0 
			 Grade 4 6,940 45 1,000 70 0 0 2,510 100 
		
	
	Grade for Charge is an assessment of the accommodation's chargeable condition, which does not only take into account its physical condition but other factors such as its size and closeness to amenities.
	The low grade given to accommodation in the South Atlantic islands for example reflects the remote location and environmental factors rather than the actual condition of the accommodation which is considered reasonable. It should be noted that a large proportion of overseas SLA is only used during operational deployments. Although much of this accommodation is G4fC, residents are not charged for it.
	In Cyprus, some 650 bed-spaces will be upgraded by 2012 for use on a permanent basis. In addition, there are ongoing programmes of improvement work in all the above locations including the Hired Accommodation Revitalisation Programme project, which aims to replace or upgrade the entire hired estate in Germany over the next five years.
	Over the next decade the MOD will spend over 8.4 billion on accommodation, including some 3 billion on bringing accommodation up to the top condition. This will include the delivery of some further 30,000 new or improved SLA bed-spaces by 2013.

Armed Forces: Water

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what steps the Government has taken to guarantee access to clean water for personnel serving overseas.

Des Browne: The Department takes the health of its soldiers very seriously and guaranteeing access to clean drinking water is particularly important to the well being of the armed forces, especially in the very hot climates of Iraq and Afghanistan.
	For service personnel and their families posted to Germany or Permanent Joint Operating Bases such as Cyprus, Gibraltar or the Falkland Islands, this is provided to homes and workplaces via normal infrastructure, and to troops on exercise via tankers or jerrycans.
	For troops serving on operations, water is provided through a number of means and distributed by the most expedient fashion. The majority of water is sourced from boreholes, purified by reverse osmosis, checked for purity and then distributed. In Afghanistan the UK also has its own water bottling plant at Camp Bastion. Where sufficient water cannot be sourced locally, we import significant quantities of bottled water. This is distributed by a variety of means depending on the destination but can be by truck, helicopter or even air dispatch for the more austere locations. Finally, soldiers are provided with water purification tablets for use in extremis, but these are not viewed as a long term method of providing access to a safe water supply.

Chinook Helicopters: Greater London

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what  (a) routes and  (b) altitudes Royal Air Force Chinook helicopters regularly fly over the London area; and what mechanism exists for concerns about altitude and noise levels resulting from such flights to be expressed by members of the public.

Derek Twigg: Military helicopters (including RAF Chinook) operating in the London area use the same fixed helicopter routes as civilian helicopters, and operate at such height as they are instructed to by air traffic control. Members of the public wishing to express concern may contact the Directorate of Air Staff Complaints and Enquiries Unit on 0207 218 6020, or by e-mail at: lowflying@mod.uk.

Departmental Manpower

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the change has been in the number of employees in his Department and its agencies since July 2006.

Derek Twigg: The following table shows the change in the number of personnel in the MOD between July 2006 and April 2008.
	
		
			  Total Department Strength( 1) 
			   Full-time equivalent 
			 July 2006 102,970 
			 April 2008 90,600 
			 Change -12,370 
			 (1) Total strength includes personnel in core top level budgets, trading funds, royal fleet auxiliaries and locally engaged civilians. Notes: 1. Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10, numbers ending in five have been rounded to the nearest multiple of 20. 2. Totals and subtotals have been rounded separately and so may not equal the sums of their rounded parts. 
		
	
	Data provided are based on DASA's quarterly product, 'CPS01Civilian Personnel Statistics Quarterly Return', the most recent version of which was issued for April 2008 and can be found at
	http://www.dasa.mod.uk/natstats/cps1/pdfs/cps01apr08.pdf

Departmental Nurseries

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average annual running cost of a crche run by his Department is.

Derek Twigg: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Secondment

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what procedures his Department uses to ensure equal opportunities in relation to staff secondments to the Department.

Derek Twigg: The principle that appointments to the civil service must be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition has been the basis of civil service recruitment policy for over a century. It underpins the maintenance of a civil service which is highly competent, politically impartial, has high standards of integrity and which avoids unfair discrimination.
	The Ministry of Defence can however waiver this policy if the secondment is part of an interchange programme or other exchange arrangement, is intended to foster contact with a particular body with which the Department has, or is developing, links, or the source of supply is very restricted. These secondments are intended to be temporary (normally up to three years, but not exceeding five years), and must not affect the employment status of the secondee.

Departmental Visits Abroad

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost of overseas visits by each Minister in his Department has been since 1997.

Derek Twigg: Since 1999 the Government have published the total cost of all overseas travel by Ministers and a list of all overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers costing over 500. Information for the last financial year was published on 25 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1112W. Details for the financial year 2007-08 will be published before the summer recess and will include details of overseas visits undertaken by all Ministers. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code.
	Information in respect of overseas visits by all Ministers for the period 1997-99 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department has paid in compensation to wounded servicemen and women and the families of those killed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001.

Derek Twigg: Information on the total amount paid out to wounded servicemen and women and the families of those killed since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan under the Armed Forces Reserves and Compensation Scheme could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	A total of 8.1 million in common law compensation claims has been paid out to wounded service personnel or the families of those killed while serving in Operations Telic and Herrick since 2001. Common law compensation claims are for people injured or having suffered loss allegedly due to the MOD's negligent actions. This is a separate claims system to the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. The figure quoted includes related payments such as legal fees and medical expenses.

Military Bases: Northern Ireland

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether any changes will be made to the financial arrangements regarding the sale of redundant military sites following recent talks between the Government, Sinn Fin and the Democratic Unionist Party.

Derek Twigg: No changes are planned. All receipts from the disposal of military sites in Northern Ireland are expected to be retained by the Ministry of Defence and re-invested by the Department in our key priorities.

Shipping: Fuels

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost was to the Royal Navy of marine diesel per tonne plus lighterage on 30th May  (a) 2008,  (b) 2007 and  (c) 2006.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 7 July 2008
	 As the Defence Fuels Group buys the majority of the Royal Navy's requirement for marine diesel in bulk for onward issue as required, it is not possible to provide a price for a specific date; however, the average costs of marine diesel for the last three years are as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year   per metric tonne 
			 2006-07 316 
			 2007-08 380 
			 2008-09 to date 570 
		
	
	The cost of lighterage is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

JUSTICE

Approved Premises: Planning

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  if he will make it his policy to restrict the use of houses previously used as privately occupied residences as bail hostels in residential areas;
	(2)  what the process is for establishing a bail hostel in a house previously used as a private residence; and whether conditions may be applied to such an establishment.

David Hanson: The process for establishing properties for the Bail Accommodation and Support Scheme (to which I understand this question refers) is as follows.
	The Regional Offender Managers, and the Directors of Offender Management for Wales and London, identify in which towns accommodation is needed and in what numbers, based on the distribution of origins, of prisoners. It is for ClearSprings to seek properties in those locations. There are currently around 160 properties in the service providing about 550 beds. ClearSprings are required to consult the local authority, police and the probation in selecting properties, in order to avoid inappropriate locations. The accommodation used must meet standards set by the local authority in relation to the accreditation of private rented housing.
	Prisoners released on Home Detention Curfew are subject to electronically monitored curfew. For defendants on bail the courts may impose such other conditions as are considered necessary to mitigate any risks of abscond, offending or interference with witnesses. These conditions may include a curfew which may be electronically monitored.

Cannabis

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have been sentenced for  (a) trafficking and  (b) selling skunk cannabis in each of the last 10 years.

David Hanson: The following table shows the number of persons sentenced for offences involving the trafficking of class B and class C drugs.
	It is not possible to identify separately on the Courts Proceedings Database trafficking of cannabis from other class B and class C drugs. Courts proceedings data for 2007 will be published in the autumn of 2008.
	
		
			  Number of persons sentenced( 1)  for offences involving trafficking of class B and class C drugs, all courts, England and Wales, 1997-2008 
			  Number of persons 
			   1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Offences in relation to the unlawful importation of a drug controlled under Misuse of Drugs Act 1971Class B drugs(2)  437 421 335 401 463 269 120 49 29 
			
			 Offences to relation to the unlawful importation of a drug controlled under Misuse of Drugs Act 1971Class C drugs(2)  12 5 19 26 23 11 100 151 159 
			
			 Offences in relation to the unlawful exportation of a drug controlled under Misuse of Drugs Act 1971Class B drugs(2)  14 6 3 2 3 1 3   
			
			 Offences in relation to the unlawful exportation of a drug controlled under Misuse of Drugs Act 1971Class C drugs(2)  1   14 6 
			
			 Supplying or offering to supply (or being concerned in supplying or offering to supply) a controlled drugCannabis and cannabis resin(2) 1,400 1,458 1,209 870 623 598 514 444 367 352 
			
			 Having possession of a controlled drug with intent to supplyCannabis or cannabis resin(2) 2,475 2,713 2,316 1,872 1,401 1,383 1,462 1,210 950 884 
			 (1) The data are on the principal offence basis. (2) On 29 January 2004 Cannabis was reclassified from a class B to a class C drug.  Note: These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.  Source: OMS, Analytical Services

Coroners

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on how many occasions a coroner acting under Rule 17 of the Coroners Rules (1984) has exercised his power to exclude the public from an inquest in each of the last five years.

Bridget Prentice: Rule 17 of the Coroners Rules 1984 allows coroners to exclude the public from an inquest or part of an inquest if they consider it would be in the national interest to do so. There is no requirement on coroners to record data about their use of Rule 17 and this information is not therefore held centrally. I would, however, expect these powers to be used infrequently.

Coroners

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many public interest immunity certificates have been served upon coroners in England and Wales seeking non-disclosure of evidence on grounds of national security in each of the last five years.

Bridget Prentice: A public body may issue a public interest immunity (PII) certificate to a court when it is considered that disclosure of material would cause real damage to the public interest. This would include coroner's courts but information about PII certificates issued to coroners is not held centrally. I would, however, expect the use of PII certificates in coroner's courts to be limited.

Coroners

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent representations he has received from bereaved families on the coroner's court procedures.

Bridget Prentice: The main aim of coroner reform is to deliver a better service for bereaved people. Since the draft Coroners Bill was published in 2006, extensive public consultation on our plans for reform has taken place and feedback from bereaved people and voluntary groups representing their interests has helped to improve several areas of policy.
	As well as receiving over 150 responses to the public consultation exercise, a panel of people with recent experience of the coroners' system debated the draft Bill in the Palace of Westminster in November 2006. The event highlighted broad support for the proposalsfor example, the introduction of an accessible appeals system for those who are unhappy with coroners' decisions. Panel members also made suggestions for improving the draft Charter for Bereaved People, which will be published alongside the Bill to show Members of Parliament how the reform proposals are intended to benefit bereaved families. I published a further version of the draft Charter for consultation on 18 June.
	I also meet regularly with groups from the voluntary sector which have an interest in the coroners' system from the perspective of bereaved families, and I have welcomed the insights and positive suggestions they have offered.

Coroners: Northern Ireland

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many public interest immunity certificates have been served on coroners in Northern Ireland seeking non-disclosure of evidence on grounds of national security in each of the last five years.

David Hanson: No Public Interest Immunity Certificates have been served on coroners since April 2006, when the new coroners service for Northern Ireland was established. Information on previous years is not available.

Criminal Cases Review Commission: Public Appointments

Chris Mullin: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  when he expects to announce the name of the new head of the Criminal Cases Review Commission;
	(2)  by what process the new head of the Criminal Cases Review Commission was chosen.

Maria Eagle: An announcement about the new chair of the Criminal Cases Review Commission is expected to be made later in the summer when the recruitment process has been completed. The recruitment of the new chair followed the guidance laid down by The Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments and an independent assessor was provided by OCPA to ensure that the proper procedures are followed.

Departmental Buildings

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice on which buildings occupied by his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies the lease will be due for renewal in the next four years.

Bridget Prentice: The information requested has been placed in the House Libraries.

Departmental ICT

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the value of his Department's computer systems  (a) was at the time of purchase and  (b) is now.

Michael Wills: The main IT systems for the Ministry of Justice's Headquarters and Her Majesty's Courts Service are provided under contracts with Atos Origin and Logica. The estimated total value of these contracts at time of signature in October 2006 was 500 million over seven years. Under these contracts, the Ministry procures services and does not own the assets.
	EDS provide the majority of ICT services for the National Offender Management Service, which includes Her Majesty's Prison Service (HMPS), under the Quantum agreement, which is a private finance initiative contract. The value of this contract at the time of signature in 2000 was 200 million, and it runs until mid-2012. HMPS procures services under this contract, and does not take title to the assets.
	The majority of National Probation Service ICT services are provided under a separate contract with Steria. The value of this contract at the time of signature in 2006 was 120 million. The contract runs until mid-2012.

Departmental Sick Leave

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many days of sick leave were taken by his Department's employees in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many working days have been lost due to sickness amongst employees for which his Department and its predecessor were responsible for each year since 1997.

Michael Wills: The Ministry of Justice was created on 9 May 2007 bringing together the former Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) and National Offender Management Service, including the Prison and Probation services and the Office for Criminal Justice Reform. The Department for Constitutional Affairs was created on 12 June 2003, and included the previous Lord Chancellor's Department, which was in operation during the period from 1997 until 2003. Figures for the National Offender Management Service and HM Prison Service were the responsibility of the Home Office until the creation of the Ministry of Justice.
	Prior to the creation of the Department for Constitutional Affairs different recording systems were employed for the collection of sick leave statistics. The cost of providing these figures would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold.
	The following table shows the recorded sickness absence:
	
		
			   2003- 0 4  2004- 0 5  2005- 0 6  2006- 0 7  2007- 0 8 
			 Former Department for Constitutional Affairs HQ 16,227 17,185 14,973 16,835 17,915 
			 HM Prison Service 591,019 
			 National Offender Management Service and Office for Criminal Justice Reform 12,365

Departmental Wastes

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department has taken to reduce the volume of waste produced by it and sent to landfill in each of the last two years.

Michael Wills: The Ministry of Justice is currently implementing its waste management strategy, which works towards a standard of best waste management practice according to the waste hierarchy of reduce, reuse, recycle and disposal.
	The waste management strategy clearly sets out information and policy of all aspects of waste activity including, Government policy requirements, legislation, commercial waste management practice, recycling and internal waste management procedures.
	The strategy fully demonstrates how recycling and waste minimisation should be performed across the estate. In addition the strategy enables data on waste produced and recycled, so the Department can monitor and report on progress to the Sustainable Development Commission.
	 Her Majesty's Court Service (HMCS)
	In addition to the implementation of the waste management strategy, HMCS will develop individual regional sustainable development action plans throughout the estate, which will incorporate Waste Action.
	 Her Majesty's Prison Service (HMPS)
	HM Prison Service is delivering a programme of implementing a waste management capability at public sector managed prisons. To-date, 87 prisons (68 per cent. of the public sector prison estate) have an operational waste management unit (WMU), separating out materials for re-use, recycling, composting and, for the residue, responsible disposal. Progress on this initiative over the past two years is set out in the following table:
	
		
			   Total prison population (April)  Number of waste units  Coverage of prisons estate (percentage)  Total waste arisings (tonnes)  Total waste diverted from disposal (tonnes)  Average Recycling Rate (percentage)  Comment 
			 2006-07 76,946 80 62 13,732 6,010 43.7 Totals reported from 49 prisons 
			 2007-08 80,126 87 68 21265.3 8786.6 41.3 Totals reported from 73 prisons

Land Registry Act 2002

Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many cases the office of the Adjudicator to HM Land Registry has examined under section 73(7) of the Land Registry Act 2002 in each year since entry into force of the Act.

Bridget Prentice: In the period from 2003 to 2008, the following number of cases have been examined by the office of the Adjudicator to HM Land Registry
	
		
			   Number of cases examined 
			 2003-04 146 
			 2004-05 1,564 
			 2005-06 1,331 
			 2006-07 1,684 
			 2007-08 1,679 
			 2008-09 (figures to date) 456

Legal Profession: Fees and Charges

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the Government's policy is on the practice of no-win no-fee offers made by law firms.

Bridget Prentice: Conditional fee or 'no win no fee' arrangements provide a mechanism for securing access to justice for individuals seeking legal redress. The Government believe that they play an important role in giving people wider access to justice and should continue to remain a funding option.
	The Solicitors' Regulatory Authority has a comprehensive regulatory framework for solicitors' conduct including charging arrangements and costs agreements.
	We are keen to ensure that no win no fee arrangements are giving people effective access to justice, and I informed the House on 25 June 2008,  Official Report, column 24WS, in a written statement, that we have commissioned an independent feasibility and scoping study into the operation of 'no win no fee'. The study will report in the autumn and will inform the feasibility of an evidence-based review.

Morning Star

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 17 June 2008,  Official Report, column 891W, on the  Morning Star, which divisions of his Department receive the copies of the  Morning Star.

Michael Wills: The only directorate of the Ministry of Justice which receives the  Morning Star is Private Office.

Offenders: Rehabilitation

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the most effective interventions with regard to  (a) reducing reoffending and  (b) increasing offenders' capacities to manage their lifestyles and associations with others in a law-abiding manner.

David Hanson: There are a range of issues that are known to affect the likelihood of reoffending. These fall into seven areas, or pathways: accommodation, education, training and employment; health; drugs and alcohol; finance, benefit and debt; children and families; attitudes, thinking and behaviour. The evidence suggests that as there are multiple influences on offending, the most effective response is with a package of interventions.
	Analytical Services in the Ministry of Justice are currently carrying out a programme of cohort studies, which follow offenders on custodial and community sentences through the course of their sentence and beyond. These will add to our knowledge about what works in reducing reoffending but also more broadly about how interventions might work in combination to address the range of offenders' needs.

Offensive Weapons: Sentencing

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what percentage of people convicted of carrying an offensive weapon under section 1 of the Prevention of Crime Act 1953 received  (a) a fine and  (b) a custodial sentence of (i) less than six months, (ii) six to 12 months, (iii) 12 to 18 months, (iv) 18 to 24 months, (v) two to three years and (vi) four years in each of the last 30 years.

Jack Straw: The Prevention of Crime Act 1953 has been amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1988 and the figures given here represent individuals sentenced under the amended provisions and section 139A of the Criminal Justice Act 1988. Data are not stored electronically for the last 30 years and cannot be extracted in a timely manner so the data supplied cover the period for which they are available, 1996 to 2006.
	
		
			  Number of persons sentenced and percentage given fines and immediate custody for carrying offensive weapons, 1996 to 2006 
			   1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Number sentenced 3,458 4,149 4,395 4,155 4,126 4,892 5,462 5,415 5,791 5,719 5,670 
			 Number given fines 1,096 1,206 1,224 1,073 964 1,148 1,129 1,168 1,038 743 578 
			 Percentage given fines 31 29 28 26 23 23 21 22 18 13 10 
			 Number given immediate custody 402 513 590 557 601 637 792 764 821 832 791 
			 Percentage given immediate custody 11 12 13 13 15 13 15 14 14 15 14 
		
	
	
		
			  Number  given custodial sentences 
			  Sentence length  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 0-6 months 361 447 540 500 545 582 701 666 739 717 654 
			 6-12 months 30 39 35 39 38 36 60 65 60 85 88 
			 12-18 months 9 15 9 6 10 14 19 18 13 15 27 
			 18-24 months 1 8 4 8 4 4 6 7 6 11 13 
			 2-3 years 1 2 2 1 4 1 5 7 3 2 6 
			 3-4 years  2  3   1 1  1 1 
			 4+ years  (1)1 (1)2 
		
	
	
		
			  Percentage given custodial sentences 
			  Sentence length  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 0-6 months 10.4 10.8 12.3 12.0 13.2 11.9 12.8 12.3 12.8 12.5 11.5 
			 6-12 months 0.9 0.9 0.8 0.9 0.9 0.7 1.1 1.2 1.0 1.5 1.6 
			 12-18 months 0.3 0.4 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.5 
			 18-24 months 0.0 0.2 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.2 
			 2-3 years 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 
			 3-4 years  0.0  0.1   0.0 0.0  0.0 0.0 
			 4+ years  0.0 0.0 
			 0.0 = Less than 0.1 per cent. (1) Indeterminate sentence for public protection.  Notes: 1. These data are based on offences under the Criminal Justice Act 1988 of possession of an offensive weapon on school premises and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place. 2. These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system.  Source: NOMS Analytical Services, Ministry of Justice.

Offensive Weapons: Sentencing

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what percentage of people convicted of encouraging violent behaviour involving the use of a knife under the Knives Act 1997 received  (a) a fine and  (b) a custodial sentence of (i) less than six months, (ii) six to 12 months, (iii) 12 to 18 months and (iv) 18 to 24 months in each year since the Act was introduced.

Jack Straw: The following tables show the number of people sentenced under the Knives Act 1997 for encouraging or promoting the use of knives in combat or for violence and the numbers and percentage that received  (a) a fine and  (b) a custodial sentence and the length of that custodial sentence in the last five years.
	
		
			  Number of persons sentenced and percentage given fines and immediate custody for encouraging violent behaviour involving the use of a knife 19962006 
			   1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Number sentenced 0 1 2 0 2 0 2 0 1 1 3 
			 Number given fines 0 1 1 0 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 
			 Percentage given fines  100 50  100  50   100  
			 Number given immediate custody 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 
			 Percentage given immediate custody   66.6 
		
	
	
		
			  Lengths of custodial sentencenumbers and percentage sentenced 
			  Number sentenced 
			  Sentence length  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 06 months   2 
			 612 Months
			 1218 Months
			 1824 Months
			 23 Years
			 34 Years
			 4+ Years
		
	
	continued
	
		
			  Percentage sentenced 
			  Sentence length  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 06 months   100.00 
			 612 Months
			 1218 Months
			 1824 Months
			 23 Years
			 34 Years
			 4+ Years
			  Notes: 1. These data are based on the offences of publication of material in connection with marketing of a knife that suggests it is suitable for use in combat or encouraging violent behaviour. 2. These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.  Source:  NOMS Analytical Services, Ministry of Justice 4 July 2008.

Offensive Weapons: Sentencing

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what percentage of people convicted of carrying an offensive weapon under section 139A of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 received  (a) a fine and  (b) a custodial sentence of (i) less than six months, (ii) six to 12 months, (iii) 12 to 18 months, (iv) 18 to 24 months, (v) two to three years and (vi) four years in each year since the Act was introduced.

Jack Straw: Section 139A of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 relates to charges of carrying an offensive weapon or article with a blade or point on school premises and the figures given in the following tables relate to total numbers sentenced and those given  (a) a fine and  (b) custodial sentence under this Act in the last 10 years. Data for the last 20 years are not stored electronically and cannot be provided without prohibitive cost.
	
		
			  Number of persons sentenced and percentage given fines and immediate custody for carrying offensive weapons  or bladed articles on school premises , 1996 to 2006 
			   1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 Number sentenced 15 38 36 36 62 80 78 109 139 75 90 
			 Number given fines 7 6 4 9 10 20 9 14 21 4 2 
			 Percentage given fines 46.7 15.8 11.1 25.0 16.1 25.0 11.5 12.8 15.1 5.3 2.2 
			 Number given immediate custody 1 7 5 5 13 6 12 10 16 8 8 
			 Percentage given immediate custody 6.7 12.4 13.4 13.4 14.6 13.0 14.5 14.1 14.2 14.6 14.0 
		
	
	
		
			  Lengths of custodial sentencenumber and percentage sentenced 
			  N umber sentenced 
			  Sentence length  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 0-6 months 1 6 1 3 8 4 9 6 13 5 4 
			 6-12 months   1 1 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 
			 12-18 months   3  1  1  1 2 2 
			 18-24 months 1   1   1 
			 2-3 years 1   1
			 3-4 years  1  1
			 4+ years
		
	
	
		
			  P ercentage  sentenced 
			  Sentence length  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			 0-6 months 6.7 15.8 2.8 8.3 12.9 5.0 11.5 5.5 9.4 6.7 4.4 
			 6-12 months   2.8 2.8 3.2 2.5 2.6 1.8 1.4 1.3 1.1 
			 12-18 months   8.3  1.6  1.3 0.0 0.7 2.7 2.2 
			 18-24 months 1.6   0.9   1.1 
			 2-3 years 1.6   0.9
			 3-4 years  2.6  2.8
			 4+ years
			  Notes: 1. These data are based on the offences of possession of an offensive weapon or article with a blade or point on school premises under section 139A of the Criminal Justice Act 1988. 2. These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale recording system.  Source: NOMS Analytical Services, Ministry of Justice.

Offensive Weapons: Sentencing

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what percentage of people convicted of having an article with a blade or point under section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 received  (a) a fine and  (b) a custodial sentence of (i) less than six months, (ii) six to 12 months, (iii) 12 to 18 months, (iv) 18 to 24 months, (v) two to three years and (vi) four years in each year since the Act was introduced.

Jack Straw: The figures in the following tables show those charged with possessing an article with a blade or point under section 139 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 and show those given  (a) a custodial sentence and the length of that custodial sentence and  (b) a fine since these offences became available on 1 September 1996.
	
		
			  Number of persons sentenced and percentage given fines and immediate custody for carrying an article with a blade or point 
			   1996( 1)  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			  Number sentenced 902 3,360 3.804 3,564 3.562 4,364 5.326 5,399 5,908 6.002 6.334 
			 Number given fines 453 1,181 1.187 1.032 996 1.164 1,356 1,289 1,148 953 691 
			 Percentage given fines 50.2 35.1 31.2 29.0 28.0 26.7 25.5 23.9 19.4 15.9 10.9 
			 Number given immediate custody 56 375 550 536 506 592 773 761 815 970 1,075 
			 Percentage given immediate custody 6.2 11.2 14.5 15.0 14.2 13.6 14.5 14.1 13.8 16.2 17.0 
			 (1) These data are based on the offences of possession of an article with a blade or point on school premises and possession of an article with a blade or point in a public place.  Notes 1 These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. 2 These offences came into force from 1 September 1996  Source:  NOMS Analytical Services, Ministry of Justice, 4 July 2008 
		
	
	
		
			  Lengths of custodial sentence: number and percentage sentenced 
			   Number sentenced 
			   1996( 1)  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			  Sentence length
			 0-6 months 55 364 528 521 493 577 736 723 780 910 1,002 
			 6-12 months 0 5 18 11 11 10 29 30 30 50 61 
			 12-18 months 1 6 2 4 1 4 7 5 5 9 9 
			 18-24 months 0 0 2 0 1 1 1 3 0 1 3 
			 2-3 years 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 3-4 years 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 4+ years 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 (1) These data are based on the offences of possession of an article with a blade or point on school premises and possession of an article with a blade or point in a public place.  Notes 1 These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. 2 These offences came into force from 1 September 1996  Source:  NOMS Analytical Services, Ministry of Justice, 4 July 2008 
		
	
	
		
			  
			   Percentage sentenced 
			   1996( 1)  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			  Sentence length
			 0-6 months 6.1 10.8 13.9 14.6 13.8 13.2 13.8 13.4 13.2 15.2 15.8 
			 6-12 months  0.1 0.5 0.3 0.3 0.2 0.5 0.6 0.5 0.8 1.0 
			 12-18 months 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1  0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			 18-24 months   0.1 0.1
			 2-3 years
			 3-4 years
			 4+ years
			 (1) These data are based on the offences of possession of an article with a blade or point on school premises and possession of an article with a blade or point in a public place.  Notes 1 These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. 2 These offences came into force from 1 September 1996  Source:  NOMS Analytical Services, Ministry of Justice, 4 July 2008

Offensive Weapons: Sentencing

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what percentage of people from each age group convicted under section 1 of the Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act 1959 received  (a) a fine and  (b) a custodial sentence in each of the last five years.

Jack Straw: The information is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Persons sentenced( 1)  under the Restriction of Offensive Weapons Act 1959( 2) , by age, 2002-06 
			Total sentenced  Fine  Fine (percentage)  Immediate custody  Immediate custody (percentage) 
			 2002 10-17 0 0 (3) 0 (3) 
			  18-20 2 0 0 1 50 
			  21 and over 2 0 0 0 0 
			
			 2003 10-17 0 0 (3) 0 (3) 
			  18-20 0 0 (3) 0 (3) 
			  21 and over 4 1 25 1 25 
			
			 2004 10-17 0 0 (3) 0 (3) 
			  18-20 1 0 0 0 0 
			  21 and over 9 7 78 0 0 
			
			 2005 10-17 0 0 (3) 0 (3) 
			  18-20 1 0 0 0 0 
			  21 and over 7 3 43 0 0 
			
			 2006 10-17 0 0 (3) 0 (3) 
			  18-20 0 0 (3) 0 (3) 
			  21 and over 4 1 25 1 25 
			 (1) Principal offence. (2) Summary offences. Relating to offences in connection with offensive weapons. (3) No persons sentenced.  Note: These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system.  Source: OMS, Analytical Services

Offensive Weapons: Young People

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were convicted for offences of selling knives to persons under  (a) 18 and  (b) 16-years-old in each of the last five years.

Jack Straw: The number of persons found guilty of offences relating to selling knives to under 16-year-olds, in England and Wales, 2002 to 2006 can be viewed in the following table.
	Prior to October 2007 it was not an offence to sell knives to 16 and 17-year-olds. This was amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1988 S.141A (1) added by Offensive Weapons Act 1996 S.6(l) as amended by the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006. Therefore there were no convictions for the sale of knives to 16 and 17-year-olds in England and Wales for the period 2002 to 2006.
	Court proceedings data for 2007 will be available in the autumn of 2008.
	These data are on the principal offence basis. The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offence for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences, the offence selected is the one for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe.
	
		
			  N umber of persons found guilty of offences relating to selling knives to under 16-year-olds, in England and Wales, 2002 - 06( 1, 2, 3) 
			   Found guilty 
			 2002 3 
			 2003 9 
			 2004 5 
			 2005 19 
			 2006 35 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis. (2 )Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3 )Includes the following statute and corresponding offence description:  Criminal Justice Act 1988 S.141A (1) as added by Offensive Weapons Act 1996 S.6(l). Any person who sells to a person under age of 16 years a knife; knife blade, razor blade, axe and any other article which has a blade, that is sharply pointed and which is made or adapted for use for causing injury to the person.  Source:  CJEAUOffice for Criminal Justice ReformMinistry of Justice

Political Parties: Finance

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what discussions he had with trades union representatives on the White Paper on party finance and expenditure prior to its publication;
	(2)  what representations his Department received from trades unions on the White Paper on party finance and expenditure prior to its publication.

Bridget Prentice: In his capacity as Secretary of State for Justice, the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor, my right hon. Friend the Member for Blackburn (Mr. Straw) neither has had meetings with, nor received representations from, trade unions in relation to the White Paper party finance and expenditure in the United Kingdom. In his capacity as his party's representative leading the cross-party talks on party funding my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor has discussed these issues with trade union representatives and many others on a number of occasions.

Political Parties: Finance

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice over what period of time he plans to consult further with political parties on legislative or regulatory changes, further to the recommendations of the party finance and expenditure White Paper.

Bridget Prentice: Our proposals for reform are largely based on recommendations from the review of the funding of political parties by Sir Hayden Phillips, and the subsequent inter-party talks he conducted. The review conducted wide-ranging consultation with both political parties and the wider public. Since the talks ended the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor my right hon. Friend the Member for Blackburn (Mr. Straw) and I have continued discussions with interested parties.
	As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor said on 16 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 691-704, we intend to introduce a Bill taking forward these proposals prior to summer recess. This will ensure that there will be opportunity for scrutiny and discussion of the Bill prior to its formal consideration in Parliament.

Prisoners Transfers

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether the receiving or sending prison is responsible for making arrangements with the escort contractor on a prisoner's transfer transport between prisons; what guidelines are in place on the number of days a transfer is to be completed in; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: Arrangements for transferring prisoners between establishments are co-ordinated through the population management section of the National Offender Management Service. The escort service is provided under contract by GSL UK Ltd. Sending establishments are responsible for processing prisoners' requests to transfer which are considered by receiving establishments against their acceptance criteria and available spaces. Transfers agreed by Thursday of one week are routinely scheduled to take place the following week. However, population pressures across the prison estate may sometimes delay transfers.

Prisons: Drugs

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what harm reduction strategies in respect of Class A drug taking are in place in prisons in England and Wales.

David Hanson: NOMS has in place a comprehensive drug treatment framework, based on the National Treatment Agency's revised Models of Care that incorporates a harm reduction strategy for class A drug misusers within which:
	Counselling, Assessment, Referral, Advice and Throughcare (CARAT) teams provide harm minimisation advice to drug users in prisons and prior to release;
	substitution prescribing is a key element of the prisons Integrated Drug Treatment System which will reduce the harms caused by class A drug use, including injecting behaviour and the risk of overdose on release;
	disinfecting tablets are freely available in the majority of prisons;
	a Hepatitis B vaccination programme is running in over 100 prisons; and
	working closely with the Drug Interventions Programme and Offender Managers to ensure continuity of treatment on release.

Prisons: Drugs

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent assessment he has made of the trends in the availability of drugs in prisons.

David Hanson: Trends of drug misuse in prisons are kept under regular review. The level of drug misuse in prisons, as measured by random mandatory drug testing, has reduced by 63 per cent. since the 1996-97 financial year.
	David Blakey a former Inspector of Constabulary was asked to conduct a review of the effectiveness of measures to keep drugs out of prisons. His report, published on 7 July, makes 10 recommendations which the Government have accepted in full.

Prisons: Drugs

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps are being taken to reduce the availability of Class A drugs in prisons.

David Hanson: A comprehensive range of measures is in place to prevent illegal drugs from entering prisons.
	On 7 July 2008 the Government published David Blakey's review into the effectiveness of the Prison Service's measures for disrupting the supply of illegal drugs into prisons. He made 10 recommendations, ranging the introduction of mobile phone blocking technology, new technology for searching and improvements to intelligence gathering. The Government have accepted all of the recommendations.

Television: Licensing

Peter Soulsby: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people were found guilty of television licence evasion in Leicester in 2007.

Maria Eagle: Court proceedings data for 2007 will be available in the autumn of 2008.

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Departmental Coordination

Theresa May: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality pursuant to the answer of 2 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 528-29W, on departmental coordination, of which cross-departmental groups the Government Equalities Office is a member.

Barbara Follett: The Government Equalities Offices supports Ministers in their work on Cabinet Subcommittees, for example attending the Domestic Affairs (Communities and Equalities), Inter-Ministerial Group on Domestic and Sexual Violence and Economic Development Official Committee. The Government Equalities Office is also a member of several cross-departmental groups. These include the Cross Departmental Equality Board, the Office for Disability Issues (ODI) Board of Management, the Race Equality Forum and the Employment PSA Delivery Board.

Departmental Information Officers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what the average cost to the Government Equalities Office was of employing a press and media officer in 2007-08.

Barbara Follett: The average monthly cost to the Government Equalities Office since its introduction on 12 October 2007 of employing a press officer and a media officer in 2007-08 was 11,801.

Departmental Manpower

Francis Maude: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many permanent staff in the Government Equalities Office are classed as  (a) staff without posts and  (b) part of a people action team.

Barbara Follett: None.

Departmental Planning Permission

Francis Maude: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what  (a) planning applications and  (b) licensing applications the Government Equalities Office has submitted since its establishment.

Barbara Follett: No such applications have been submitted by the GEO since it was established on 12 October 2008.

Departmental Press

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how much was spent by the Government Equalities Office on subscriptions for magazines, newspapers and other publications in each of the last 24 months.

Barbara Follett: The Government Equalities Office only subscribes to newspapers and only started doing so in May this year. The cost in that month was 45.63 and we should spend a similar amount each month.

Departmental Security

Francis Maude: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many departmental identity cards or departmental passes have been reported lost or stolen by staff in the Government Equalities Office since its creation.

Barbara Follett: Since the creation of the Government Equalities Office on the 12 October 2007, no ID cards or departmental passes have been reported lost or stolen by staff.

Females: Public Sector

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what steps the Government has taken to encourage more black and minority ethnic women to  (a) apply and  (b) stand as candidates for public office.

Barbara Follett: holding answer 12 May 2008
	Government are committed to increasing women's representation in political and public life, and recognises that black and minority ethnic women remain particularly under represented. The empowerment of black, Asian and minority ethnic women is one of the Ministers for women's priorities announced in July 2007.
	In 2002 the Government introduced legislation that allowed positive measures to be taken by political parties to increase the number of women candidates. In March 2008 we announced an extension to the period during which parties can use all-women short lists for candidate selection for local, national and European elections from 2015 to 2030.
	Less than 1 per cent. of local councillors are black, Asian and minority ethnic women. To be more reflective of society this number needs to increase to around 1,000. That is why the Government have established a cross party taskforce to encourage more black, Asian and minority ethnic women to become councillors. This is chaired by Baroness Uddin, the first Muslim woman to sit in the House of Lords.
	The taskforce will take into account the findings of the independent Councillors Commission which was set up last year by the Department of Communities and Local Government. This reported in December 2008 and made recommendations to encourage a more diverse range of people to become councillors so that communities are better represented. The Government's response will be published in the summer.
	The Department of Communities and Local Government also helps fund Operation Black Vote, an independent organisation which works to increase civic engagement by people from ethnic minority communities. Programmes run by OBV include shadowing schemes for MPs, councillors, and magistrates.

Morning Star

Francis Maude: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how many copies of the  Morning Star publication the Government Equalities Office subscribes to each week; and at what cost.

Barbara Follett: The Government Equalities Office does not subscribe to the  Morning Star publication.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Death: Children

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many deaths of children have been attributed to  (a) brain cancer and  (b) leukaemia in the last three years.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 9 July 2008:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many deaths among children have been attributed to (a) brain cancer and (b) leukaemia in the last three years. (216378)
	The table attached provides the number of deaths with an underlying cause of (a) brain cancer and (b) leukaemia, for children aged under 16 years, for 2004 to 2006 (the latest year available).
	
		
			  Table 1: Deaths with an underlying cause of (a) brain cancer and (b) leukaemia,( 1 ) children aged under 16 years,( 2)  England and Wales,  2004 - 06( 3) 
			  Deaths 
			   Brain cancer  Leukaemia 
			 2004 82 65 
			 2005 79 54 
			 2006 88 75 
			 (1) The cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes C71 for brain cancer and C91-C95 for leukaemia (2) For the purposes of mortality statistics, children are defined as persons under the age of 16. Figures exclude deaths at ages under 28 days. (3 )Figures are for deaths registered in each calendar year.

Departmental Buildings

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  how many  (a) new builds and  (b) major refurbishments were completed by his Department for a cost in excess of 0.5 million in (i) 2005-06, (ii) 2006-07 and (iii) 2007-08 to which the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method or equivalent was applied; how many such buildings were assessed as (A) pass, (B) good, (C) very good and (D) excellent; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many  (a) new builds and  (b) major refurbishments for a cost in excess of 0.5 million were completed by his Department in (i) 2005-06, (ii) 2006-07 and (iii) 2007-08.

Tom Watson: The Cabinet Office has not completed any new builds or major refurbishments during the period 2005-06 to 2007-08.

Departmental Retirement

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the standard retirement age in the Prime Minister's Office is; and how many people worked beyond the standard retirement age in each of the last five years.

Tom Watson: From 1 October 2006 the Cabinet Office, including the Prime Minister's Office, changed its retirement age from 60 to 65 years for all grades in line with Employment Equality (Age) Regulations. The expectation is that the Department will no longer have a standard retirement age by year 2011, but this is being kept under review.
	The numbers of Cabinet Office people allowed to work beyond the standard retirement age in each of the last five years were:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2003 13 
			 2004 15 
			 2005 16 
			 2006 (1)15 
			  (2)0 
			 2007 7 
			 (1) Up to 30 September (2) From 1 October

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Allotments: Waiting Lists

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance she has issued to local authorities on the use of waiting lists for allotments.

Iain Wright: Local authorities are responsible for keeping and managing waiting list for allotments.
	In liaison with CLG, the Local Government Association revised a good practice guide, Growing in the Community, in March 2008. The guide advises local authorities to reduce waiting lists for allotments by promoting vacancies across local authority boundaries. A free copy was sent to all local authorities and is now available on request from the LGA.
	Planning Policy guidance 17 encourages local authorities to assess the needs of their communities for a range of open spaces, and to address deficiencies. It also suggests that authorities should allocate sites within their plans for the provision of new open spaces.
	PPG17 advises local authorities to use the information gained from their assessments of needs and opportunities to set locally derived standards for the provision of open space, sports and recreation facilities in their areas. Local standards should include:
	1. Quantitative elements (how much new provision may be needed).
	2. A qualitative component (against which to measure the need for enhancement of existing facilities).
	3. Accessibility (including distance thresholds and considering of the cost of using a facility).

Approved Premises: Planning Permission

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether planning permission is required to convert a domestic dwelling into a bail hostel.

Iain Wright: It is for local planning authorities to determine in the first instance whether a material change of use has occurred or would occur, and also whether planning permission is required. These decisions need to be made on a case by case basis taking into account individual circumstances, and by reference to the Town and Country (Use Classes) Order 1987 (as amended) and the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (as amended).
	A bail hostel with the characteristics of a residential institution and where there is provision of accommodation and care may be considered to be a class C2 use. Alternatively, a bail hostel could be regarded as 'sui generis', that is, of its own kind, if it is not considered that it could fit comfortably into any use class. In general, if a local planning authority considers a bail hostel to be within class C2 or 'sui generis', then planning permission would usually be required for a change of use from a domestic dwelling.
	Where there is a group of people living together in a single household in a domestic dwelling, it would not necessarily be the case that a material change of use would occur simply because the residents were subject to other restrictions or controls. If the amenity impacts are consistent with those typical of a residential dwelling, it is likely that there would be no requirement for planning permission. This, however, would be for the local authorities to determine.

Co-operative Wholesale Society

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on what dates meetings have taken place between Ministers and officials from her Department and representatives of the Co-operative Wholesale Society since 1 May 2005 on the development of the Co-operative Wholesale Society's land within Harborough District; where each meeting took place; and who attended each.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 7 July 2008
	There have been no meetings between Ministers at Communities and Local Government and the Co-operative Wholesale Society (CWS) since 1 May 2005. As part of the process for taking forward the eco-towns programme officials have met with members of CWS, who have submitted proposals for an eco-town at Pennbury (Stoughton). The majority of these meetings have been as part of the further assessment of the proposal, in particular following its shortlisting in April and along with the relevant local authorities. This includes attendance at the eco-town joint technical group meetings and also the Eco-towns Challenge Panel. As we further consult and assess the shortlisted eco-town proposals we expect these meetings to continue.

Council Housing: Finance

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities are due to receive a negative housing revenue account subsidy in 2008-09; what the level of each negative subsidy is; and how many local authority tenants there are in each of these local authorities.

Iain Wright: The data are shown in the following table. We do not collect information on the number of tenancies in each authority; the table shows the number of relevant dwellings for each authority.
	
		
			  Local authority  Dwellings  Subsidy () 
			 Adur 2,718 -2,379,650 
			 Alnwick 1,771 -381,354 
			 Arun 3,471 -3,576,407 
			 Ashford 5,302 -3,294,449 
			 Babergh 3,568 -4,606,132 
			 Barking 19,678 -17,007,271 
			 Barnet 11,117 -12,042,903 
			 Barrow 2,781 -55,640 
			 Basildon 11,581 -3,110,904 
			 Bassetlaw 7,004 -2,886,842 
			 Berwick 1,933 -1,408,660 
			 Birmingham 64,233 -8,083,506 
			 Blaby 2,218 -2,159,692 
			 Bolsover 5,462 -4,758,038 
			 Bournemouth 5,166 -3,334,058 
			 Bracknell (1)0 -6,683 
			 Brentwood 2,560 -3,548,489 
			 Bridgnorth 2,377 -3,072,562 
			 Brighton and Hove 12,385 -2,426,905 
			 Bristol 28,679 -5,562,715 
			 Broxtowe 4,642 -3,223,735 
			 Bury 8,383 -4,316,737 
			 Cambridge 7,568 -11,762,891 
			 Cannock Chase 5,658 -3,241,500 
			 Canterbury 5,308 -5,097,607 
			 Caradon 3,561 -3,050,465 
			 Carrick 3,719 -817,525 
			 Castle Point 1,553 -2,005,118 
			 Charnwood 5,888 -3,359,625 
			 Cheltenham 4,687 -1,668,785 
			 Chesterfield 9,917 -5,501,436 
			 City of York 8,059 -5,286,644 
			 Colchester 6,358 -2,253,323 
			 Corby 4,904 -3,093,312 
			 Crawley 8,290 -13,877,873 
			 Croydon 14,106 -16,029,836 
			 Dacorum 10,658 -18,912,495 
			 Darlington 5,519 -506,384 
			 Dartford 4,377 -5,063,008 
			 Daventry (1)0 -1,488 
			 Dover 4,667 -5,230,192 
			 Dudley 23,570 -16,994,511 
			 Durham 6,208 -1,901,230 
			 East Devon 4,302 -5,358,394 
			 East Riding 11,073 -9,392,480 
			 Ellesmere Port 5,711 -4,547,005 
			 Enfield 11,880 -8,375,326 
			 Epping Forest 6,619 -10,648,532 
			 Exeter 5,088 -4,359,164 
			 Fareham 2,423 -2,199,529 
			 Gedling 3,439 -2,518,606 
			 Gloucester 4,566 -1,536,163 
			 Gosport 3,259 -3,176,892 
			 Gravesham 6,023 -5,969,995 
			 Great Yarmouth 6,173 -2,675,660 
			 Guildford 5,414 -10,360,394 
			 Harlow 9,998 -12,052,992 
			 Harrogate 3,936 -2,457,628 
			 Harrow 5,073 -6,555,933 
			 Havering 10,879 -12,562,573 
			 High Peak 4,135 -1,946,606 
			 Hillingdon 10,752 -10,461,727 
			 Hinckley 3,413 -3,462,184 
			 Ipswich 8,285 -6,133,576 
			 Kettering 3,853 -3,106,606 
			 Kingston upon Thames 4,870 -6,608,682 
			 Lancaster 3,846 -1,344,808 
			 Lewes 3,286 -2,973,426 
			 Lincoln 8,013 -555,651 
			 Luton 8,303 -5,702,451 
			 Mansfield 6,846 -1,030,703 
			 Medway Towns 3,088 -1,387,488 
			 Melton 1,916 -1,501,822 
			 Merton 6,528 -8,835,210 
			 Mid Devon 3,120 -3,304,663 
			 Mid Suffolk 3,493 -3,542,452 
			 Milton Keynes 12,673 -10,183,856 
			 NE Derbyshire 8,263 -6,535,215 
			 New Forest 5,044 -7,940,314 
			 Newark 5,462 -2,279,765 
			 North Cornwall 3,393 -2,522,056 
			 North Kesteven 3,841 -2,600,713 
			 North Tyneside 15,921 -1,407,753 
			 North Warwick 2,807 -3,457,390 
			 Northampton 12,342 -9,082,910 
			 Norwich 15,928 -6,082,096 
			 Nuneaton 6,102 -3,892,244 
			 NW Leicester 4,517 -4,403,257 
			 Oadby and Wigston 1,269 -939,218 
			 Oswestry 1,930 -1,519,839 
			 Oxford City 7,955 -10,612,055 
			 Plymouth 15,317 -1,890,658 
			 Poole 4,648 -3,401,007 
			 Portsmouth 15,339 -4,530,916 
			 Reading 7,427 -4,589,009 
			 Redbridge 4,718 -4,616,277 
			 Redditch 6,114 -5,754,512 
			 Richmondshire 1,632 -1,020,076 
			 Rotherham 21,322 -2,066,628 
			 Rugby 3,906 -3,381,074 
			 Runnymede 3,074 -5,957,731 
			 Rutland 1,244 -1,358,645 
			 Salisbury 5,406 -7,510,880 
			 Sandwell 30,843 -507,297 
			 Sedgefield 8,647 -3,277,201 
			 Sedgemoor 4,171 -3,604,911 
			 Selby 3,189 -2,685,114 
			 Shepway 3,457 -2,311,025 
			 Slough 6,640 -7,807,361 
			 Solihull 10,860 -4,381,743 
			 South Beds 5,295 -8,527,225 
			 South Cambridge 5,643 -11,851,560 
			 South Derby 3,128 -2,913,848 
			 South Holland 3,930 -3,731,605 
			 South Kesteven 6,316 -5,653,141 
			 South Lakeland 3,216 -3,388,743 
			 South Tyneside 18,598 -3,182,182 
			 Southampton 17,312 -5,192,845 
			 Southend-on-Sea 6,227 -2,714,261 
			 St. Albans 5,319 -9,699,569 
			 Stevenage 8,384 -12,778,546 
			 Stockport 11,634 -1,373,712 
			 Stoke-on-Trent 19,740 -5,939,063 
			 Stroud 5,255 -5,885,295 
			 Sutton 6,600 -9,853,047 
			 Swindon 10,631 -9,208,501 
			 Tamworth 4,614 -1,676,915 
			 Tandridge 2,693 -3,675,633 
			 Taunton Deane 6,131 -5,826,075 
			 Tendring 3,267 -1,741,703 
			 Thanet 3,144 -123,583 
			 Three Rivers (1)0 -7,563 
			 Thurrock 10,369 -8,827,811 
			 Uttlesford 2,887 -5,159,758 
			 Wandsworth 17,278 -15,216,808 
			 Warrington 8,903 -5,294,893 
			 Warwick 5,645 -6,633,130 
			 Waveney 4,672 -3,469,804 
			 Waverley 4,998 -10,059,680 
			 Wealden 3,173 -2,361,759 
			 Welwyn Hatfield 9,413 -16,355,962 
			 West Lancashire 6,444 -4,619,089 
			 Winchester 5,121 -8,377,734 
			 Woking 3,495 -5,308,543 
			 Wokingham 2,781 -4,840,898 
			 Wolverhampton 24,025 -6,036,813 
			 Wycombe 6,212 -11,235,835 
			
			 England 1,079,101 -756,397,779 
			 (1) Indicates stock transferred and only residual activity on HRA  Note: Data are provisional estimates taken from 200801 Advance claim form

Council Housing: Finance

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much is expected to be  (a) collected in negative subsidy and  (b) allocated in positive subsidy in the housing revenue account subsidy system in 2008-09.

Iain Wright: Only provisional details of total negative subsidy to be collected in 2008-09 and total positive subsidy for the same period taken from the 200801 Advance claim form are available at this stage and are subject to revision as further claim forms are submitted during the year.
	The current data from these forms show expected negative subsidy of -756,397,779 and total positive subsidy of 560,580,841.

Council Housing: Finance

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much of the housing revenue account subsidy is expected to be retained by the Exchequer in  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10.

Iain Wright: Only provisional details of housing revenue account subsidy entitlements in 2008-09, taken from the 200801 advance claim form, are available at this time and are subject to revision as further claim forms are submitted during the year.
	The current data from these forms show a provisional surplus of 195,816,938, although this is subject to change and fluctuations.
	Beyond 2008-09, our forecasts will depend on decisions yet to be taken by Ministers on the annual Housing Revenue Account Subsidy Determination, on which we aim to consult shortly with local authorities.

Council Housing: Offenders

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance her Department has issued to local authorities on the criteria to be used in the allocation of social housing to former prisoners who are on the Sex Offenders Register.

Iain Wright: In 2004 the Department wrote to housing authorities to advise them of their duty, under the Criminal Justice Act 2003, to co-operate with the police, probation and the prison service in establishing arrangements to assess and manage the risks posed by sexual and violent offenders. This letter advised housing authorities that the Department expects the duty to co-operate to include such matters as:
	providing information on the availability, type and location of housing
	offering advice on the suitability of available accommodation, and entering into reciprocal arrangements with Registered Social Landlords and
	neighbouring authorities in order to make it easier to achieve a satisfactory housing solution for offenders.
	The advice also made clear that the Department expects housing authorities to consider carefully all housing options, including an appropriate allocation within their own stock or nomination to an RSL.
	The statutory Allocations Code of Guidance, issued in 2002, advises housing authorities that, where sex offenders are allocated accommodation, this should be in the light of considered decisions about managing risk associated with their release from prison into the community. The code also refers local authorities to earlier guidance issued by the Department in November 1999.

Council Housing: Tamworth

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many council dwellings have been  (a) sold and  (b) built in Tamworth constituency since 1997.

Iain Wright: Between 1997-98 and 2006-07, Tamworth local authority reported 1,395 sales through right to buy.
	Over the same period Tamworth local authority reported no local authority new build dwellings.
	 Source:
	Returns from local authority to Communities and Local Government.

Council Housing: Waiting Lists

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many applications for medical priority points were made in each London local authority in each of the last five years; and how many households were awarded medical priority in each year.

Iain Wright: The information requested is not collected centrally.

Council Tax

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to what extent local authorities  (a) keep and  (b) equalise away the increased council tax revenue from the construction of additional dwellings within the locality.

John Healey: Local authorities keep all of the council tax revenue they raise on chargeable dwellings in their area, whether newly constructed or not.

Council Tax

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what proportion of domestic residences pay only a single person occupancy council tax charge.

John Healey: Details of the number of domestic properties in England granted a discount on council tax because of single person occupancy can be found in table 2.21 of Local Government Financial Statistics England No 18 2008, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

Council Tax: Second Homes

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding has been used to reimburse local council tax billing authorities under provisions for a council tax discount for second homes in each year in which figures are available since financial year 2000-01.

John Healey: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 3 September 2007,  Official Report, column 1640W.

Deprivation Indicators: Rural Areas

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will redefine the Index of Multiple Deprivation to take better account of the facilities available for rural populations in remote areas.

John Healey: The Indices of Deprivation are designed to ensure that deprivation is recognised in all types of areas as deprivation is measured independently of the size of the population. The measurement of deprivation at Super Output Area level rather than ward level also means that we are able to pick up small pockets of deprivation more accurately, and thus are able to pick up pockets of deprivation in rural as well as urban areas.

East Midlands Development Agency

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much money the East Midlands Development Agency has disbursed in  (a) revenue and  (b) capital spending in each of the financial years for which figures are available.

Patrick McFadden: I have been asked to reply.
	EMDA delivers a number of programmes, principally the Single Programme. Also the Coalfields Programme and some elements of the 2000-07 ERDF programme. Not all programmes have a consistent capital/current definition. Please see the following table showing current and capital programme figures for the last five years.
	
		
			  000 
			   Current programme  Capital programme 
			 2003-04 42,683 54,928 
			 2004-05 44,276 49,081 
			 2005-06 59,140 80,406 
			 2006-07 64,485 73,802 
			 2007-08 65,253 83,686

Empty Property

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many empty dwelling management orders have been made; and what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of such orders in helping to bring empty dwellings back into use.

Iain Wright: To date, 12 Interim Empty Dwelling Management Orders (EDMOs) have been approved by the Residential Property Tribunal Service (RPTS) since the legislation came into effect in April 2006.
	We are confident that the legislation is beginning to work well. We always intended that it should be used only as a last resort where other measures have proved unsuccessful. Our policy is to encourage voluntary re-occupation of empty homes but this can only work well where there is realistic compulsion to back them up. EDMOs provide this compulsion and should therefore be a key component of a comprehensive empty property strategy.
	Since the legislation was introduced, the number of properties empty for longer than six months has fallen by 4 per cent. from 282,461 to 271,252.

Fire Services

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what processes are in place to measure the effectiveness of regional management boards in respect of regionalisation of fire control centres; and if she will make a statement.

Parmjit Dhanda: It is for the FRAs in each region to decide how they want to work together to ensure effective FiReControl delivery. The delivery mechanisms include regional management boards.
	Significant progress continues to be achieved in delivering the FiReControl Project and the Regional Control Centres. Seven local authority control led companies have been established. An eighth is expected to be in place shortly. Seven buildings are complete, with London and east of England on track. Seven out of eight regional control centre director posts have been filled, five are already in post. London as a single authority is making its own arrangements about its structures.

Housing

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what definition her Department uses of intermediate market in respect of housing;
	(2)  whether her Department's targets for new housing include targets for the provision of intermediate market housing.

Iain Wright: Intermediate affordable housing is defined in Planning Policy Statement 3 'Housing' (PPS3) and can include shared equity schemes, such as the Government's HomeBuy scheme, other low cost homes for sale and homes for intermediate rent, which are above social rent but below market rent. Low cost market housing is outside of this definition.
	We are investing 8.4 billion for affordable housing in 2008-11a 3 billion increase compared to the previous three years and we are committed to delivering at least 70,000 more affordable homes a year by 2010. This includes 45,000 new affordable homes for rent a year by 2010-11a 50 per cent. increase on the target for 2007-08 and 75,000 shared ownership and shared equity homes over the next three years funded mainly by the Housing Corporation, contributing to our overall housing supply aspirations.

Housing: Construction

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many new dwellings have been constructed in  (a) Lower Lea and Stratford,  (b) The Royals,  (c) Greenwich Peninsula,  (d) Woolwich,  (e) Barking Riverside and Town Centre,  (f) Thurrock,  (g) Basildon,  (h) Ebbsfleet Valley,  (i) Kent Thames Waterfront and  (j) Medway Waterfront and Chattenden since 1 April 2005; and if she make a statement.

Iain Wright: Information is not available for the small areas requested. The following table presents reported new build completions for the local authorities in which these areas are located.
	
		
			  Local Authority  Area  New build completions in 2007-08 
			 Tower Hamlets Lower Lea and Stratford 1,332 
			 Newborn The Royals 511(1) 
			 Greenwich Greenwich Peninsula and Woolwich 651(1) 
			 Barking and Dagenham Barking Riverside and town centre 800 
			 Thurrock Thurrock 178(1) 
			 Basildon Basildon 730 
			 Dartford Ebbsfleet Valley 907 
			 Medway Kent Thames Waterfront and Medway Waterfront and Chattenden 647(1) 
			 (1) Indicates incomplete data where a local authority has reported for only part of the year.  Source:  New build completions from P2 quarterly returns submitted by local authorities and National House Building Council (NHBC). The local authority figures are as reported and do not include imputation estimates.

Housing: Domestic Safety

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what information her Department collects on the implementation of the housing health and safety ratings system; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 8 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1501W.

Housing: Prices

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate her Department and its agencies have made of the rate of change in sale prices of  (a) flats and  (b) houses in each of the last 12 months.

Iain Wright: Data on house price changes by dwelling type are available from the monthly CLG house price index available at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/housingmarket/publications/communities-local/

Housing: Public Participation

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many consultation exercises her Department has initiated seeking the views of property managers since its consultation on statements of accounts and designated client accounts.

Iain Wright: The latest consultation exercise on the statements of account and designated client accounts took place in July 2007.
	Consultation exercises were carried out prior to this in November 1998, August 2000 (The Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Draft Bill and Consultation Paper), and June 2004.
	These exercises have informed the proposed amendments to the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 which are contained in the Housing and Regeneration Bill currently before Parliament.

Housing: Standards

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what percentage of homes met the decent homes standard at the most recent date for which figures are available; and what estimate she has made of the number which will meet the standard in 2013.

Iain Wright: In 2006 63.2 per cent. of all homes in England met the decent homes standard, as reported by the English House Condition Survey.
	We have not made any estimate of the number of homes which will meet the decent homes standard in 2013.

Housing: Sustainable Development

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how many homes in each region meet the criteria for level  (a) 3,  (b) 4,  (c) 5 and  (d) 6 under the Code for Sustainable Homes;
	(2)  how many homes have been built in each region which meet the criteria for level  (a) 3,  (b) 4,  (c) 5 and  (d) 6 under the Code for Sustainable Homes in each year since 2000.

Iain Wright: Since the code was launched in April 2007, 1,633 developments representing over 45,000 homes have been registered to the scheme. It was always anticipated that there would be a time lag from the code's inception to the completion of substantial numbers of new code homes due to the time it takes to incorporate the code standards within the design and land acquisition process.
	The register of code certificates and the data underpinning it are administered by the BRE on behalf of the Government, who provide reports on a monthly basis. A breakdown of these figures by local authority area, Government office region and by landlord type is provided on a quarterly basis. We are due to receive the first quarterly report in late July 2008.

Housing: Sustainable Development

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether homes with a level 6 Code for Sustainable Homes are restricted in the white goods that they can use, with particular regard to the make of  (a) tumble drier and  (b) washing machine.

Iain Wright: Credits are awarded under the code where energy efficient white goods are supplied to each dwelling or where information is provided relating to energy efficient white goods under the EU Energy Efficiency Labelling Scheme.
	A developer who chooses to build to code level 6 will need to gain over 90 per cent. of the credits available within the code and so may choose to provide highly efficient white goods in order to help achieve this. However, provision of such white goods is not itself mandatory and the code in no way restricts the make of goods provided.

Housing: Thames Gateway

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Answer of 18 February 2008,  Official Report, column 39W, on Housing: Thames Gateway, if she will provide a breakdown by local government administrative area of the location of the 26,400 new dwellings completed in the period January 2003 to March 2007 within the Thames Gateway area; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The figure of 26,400 new build dwellings included in the previous answer is an estimate of new build dwellings within the Thames Gateway area. The estimate was produced by apportioning the total number of new build completions in 'Thames Gateway' local authorities with information from Land Use Change Statistics (LUCS).
	The following table provides an approximate breakdown by local authority of the 26,400 new build total.
	
		
			  New dwellings completed between April 2003 and March 2007 
			  Local authority  New build completions 
			 Barking and Dagenham 220 
			 Basildon 600 
			 Bexley 690 
			 Castle Point 810 
			 Dartford 1,750 
			 Gravesham 820 
			 Greenwich 4,540 
			 Hackney 190 
			 Havering 160 
			 Lewisham 1,950 
			 Medway UA 2,530 
			 Newham 1,410 
			 Rochford 230 
			 Southend-on-Sea UA 1,250 
			 Swale 2,400 
			 Thurrock UA 2,450 
			 Tonbridge and Malling 20 
			 Tower Hamlets 4,390 
			   
			 Thames Gateway 26,400 
		
	
	The estimates using these sources are approximate. Communities and Local Government is working with the Valuation Office Agency on a methodology to develop a more accurate measure of net dwelling supply (which takes account of new build, change of use and demolitions) within the Thames Gateway area. It will then be possible to disaggregate the figures more precisely to local authority level, but not before further quality assurance.

Local Authority Business Growth Incentives Scheme

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much was allocated to each London local authority through the Local Authority Business Growth Incentive scheme in each year since its inception.

John Healey: The allocations to each London local authority in each year of the scheme can be found on the Communities and Local Government website at:
	http://www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/labgi/endyr3data.xls.

Non-domestic Rates: Empty Property

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what notifications her Department has received from local authorities of cases of properties becoming intentionally dilapidated to avoid empty property business rates in the latest period for which figures are available.

John Healey: As I indicated to the Legislation Committee on 26 March in the debate on the Non- Domestic Rating (Unoccupied property) Regulations the Government would monitor the impact of the reforms. The Government have asked local authorities to provide information about how reforms to the empty property rate are working.
	The information provided will be based on the informed judgment of individual local authority officers and is being gathered as a broad indicator of the scale of possible avoidance activity and not a detailed survey. As at 20 June the Department has been notified of four possible incidences where local authorities consider that avoidance of empty property rates may have been a factor in the deliberate dilapidation of a property. There is no suggestion the actions in question were unlawful.

Non-domestic Rates: Out of Town Shopping Centres

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what rules apply to the apportionment of business rates for  (a) out-of-town retail premises and  (b) car parks which serve the customers of such premises.

John Healey: None.
	Each rateable non-domestic property that is separately occupied is given its own rateable value based on its rental value. In practice the rent paid, and hence rateable value assessed on a retail unit, fully reflects the benefit of any car parking provision.

Non-domestic Rates: Tax Allowances

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent work has been undertaken by her Department on reviewing business rate exemptions.

John Healey: The last review of business rate exemptions was conducted following a Lyons inquiry recommendation to review all reliefs and exemptions within business rates. The pre-Budget report 2007 announced that the review had concluded.

Olympic Delivery Authority: Finance

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what monies were vired from the growth area funding originally allocated to the Thames Gateway area to the Olympic Delivery Authority in each of the last three financial years; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 8 July 2008
	A memorandum was provided to the Communities and Local Government Committee on 5 March 2008, as per the entry at Appendix III, paragraph 1 of the Votes and Proceedings for 25 March 2008, in which the Department's contribution to the Olympics was set out.

Pedestrian Crossings: Manpower

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many school crossing patrol officers there were in each year since 1990, broken down by local authority area; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I have been asked to reply.
	The figures requested are not kept centrally but individually by each local authority.

Planning Obligations

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what auditing procedures are in place to evaluate the use made of section 106 agreement monies received by local authorities as a result of domestic housing developments.

Iain Wright: Where a planning obligation ('s106 agreement') requires a contribution to be paid to a local planning authority and for it to be put towards a named piece of infrastructure (eg a play area), the local planning authority would be under an obligation to provide that infrastructure. Developers can enforce planning obligations through the courts.
	Copies of planning obligations must be placed on the planning register and Government recommend that local planning authorities monitor the implementation of obligations entered into using standardised systems such as IT databases to ensure that information is readily available to the local community. Such systems should link to the on-line planning register so that the public can access this information from a single source.
	Research by University of Sheffield and the Halcrow Group ('Valuing Planning Obligations in England' 2006) estimates that in 2003-04, 74.5 per cent. of LPAs in England used electronic databases to monitor the implementation of planning obligations.

Regional Planning and Development: Thames Gateway

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what projects have been identified for funding under the auspices of the Thames Gateway Economic Development Investment Plan; at what indicative cost; over what period of time; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 7 July 2008
	An Economic Development Investment Plan for the Thames Gateway is currently being developed by the three Greater South East Regional Development Agencies. Projects identified for funding will be set out in the plan.

Social Rented Housing: Finance

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much capital has been spent on social housing in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) England in each year since 1997.

Iain Wright: The Department collects information on housing capital expenditure from local authorities through the Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (HSSA) annual return. Constituency level information is not collected centrally. The parliamentary constituency of Jarrow falls into two local authorities: South Tyneside and Gateshead and figures for these are provided instead.
	Capital works includes (a) installation, replacement or major repair; (b) demolition and conversion; and (c) new building/acquisition. Local authorities' reporting on capital expenditure is based on the work to properties where either they are the owner or they share financial responsibility for capital works.
	Since 1998-99 the data have been collected first through the Housing Investment Programme (HIP) and then by the HSSA return from 2001-02. The information in table 1 is published and available via the Department's website:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/localauthorityhousing/dataforms/357553/hssa200607/
	
		
			  Table 1: Local authority housing capital expenditure 
			   million 
			   1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Gateshead 9 9 14 15 14 15 19 31 62 
			 South Tyneside 9 11 12 19 18 15 14 17 17 
			   
			  Region  
			 North East 107 116 136 156 159 189 193 257 304 
			   
			  National  
			 England 1,660 1,569 1,816 2,139 2,345 2,641 3,176 3,385 3,313 
			 Source:  Housing Strategy Statistical Appendix (HSSA) 
		
	
	Equivalent capital expenditure figures for registered social landlords are not collected. Table 2 shows Government investment in social housing through the Housing Corporation's grant funding. This excludes funds that have been invested by registered social landlords either through their own resources or through private sector borrowing.
	
		
			  Table 2: Housing corporation affordable housing programme expenditure on social rent 
			   million 
			   1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Gateshead 1.1 0.8 0.6 2.9 4.1 4.5 2.9 2.8 1.9 
			 South Tyneside 0.9 1.2 0.6 1.0 2.4 4.2 1.4 3.9 2.6 
			   
			  Region  
			 North East 15.4 15.7 15.8 18.6 19.6 34.9 35.4 31.9 38.7 
			   
			  National  
			 England 446.5 522.8 575.7 646.5 760.2 1171 1050 933.2 1432.5 
			  Source: Housing CorporationInvestment Management System

Social Rented Housing: Overcrowding

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment she has made of the extent of over-crowding in the registered social landlord sector in  (a) England and  (b) London; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: The Survey of English Housing indicates that over the three years to 2006-07, the number of overcrowded households living in social rented accommodation was estimated to be 228,000 in England and 97,000 in London.
	Estimates of the numbers of overcrowded households in the local authority sector and the registered social landlord sector are not published separately.

Travelling People: Planning Permission

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what planning guidance her Department and its predecessor has produced on Traveller camps.

Iain Wright: The overarching planning guidance on Gypsy and Traveller sites is contained within ODPM Circular 01/2006 Planning for Gypsy and Traveller Caravan Sites published on 2 February 2006. Separate guidance on sites for Travelling Showpeople is contained within Communities and Local Government Circular 04/2007 Planning for Travelling Showpeople, published on 21 August 2007.
	In addition, the following publications have been produced as part of the overall planning framework for Gypsy and Traveller sites:
	Designing Gypsy and Traveller Sites Good Practice Guide: May 2008;
	Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessments: October 2007;
	Local Authorities and Gypsies and Travellers: a guide to responsibilities and powers: May 2007;
	Guide to Effective Use of Enforcement Powers, Part 2: Unauthorised Development of Caravan Sites: October 2007; and
	Guide to effective use of enforcement powers, Part 1: unauthorised encampments: February 2006 (in conjunction with the Home Office).
	All of these publications are available on the Communities and Local Government website at:
	www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingmanagementcare/ gypsiesandtravellers

NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental Buildings

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on which buildings occupied by his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies the lease will be due for renewal in the next four years.

Shaun Woodward: Details of the buildings leases which are due to expire in the next four years are set out as follows. Decisions on renewal will be made on a case by case basis.
	12th Floor Windsor House, Belfast
	22nd Floor Windsor House, Belfast
	33 St. James Square, London
	Calgach Centre, Londonderry
	Interpoint, York Street, Belfast
	Buckingham Gate, London
	St. Anne's House, Belfast
	1st and 2nd Floors, 6-10 William Street, Belfast
	Unit 2 Portland Avenue, Glengormley
	52 Bridge Street, Banbridge
	21 Kelvin Avenue, Omagh
	68 Broadway, Ballymena
	Castlewellan Road, Banbridge
	Brownlow, Craigavon
	English Street, Downpatrick
	Shore Road, Enniskillen
	Broad Street, Magherafelt
	The Mall, Newry
	Library Court, Belfast
	471 Falls Road, Belfast
	39 Howard Street, Belfast
	Catherine Street, Limavady
	40-44 Great Patrick Street, Belfast
	106 Bridge Street, Ballymena
	12 Lodge Road, Coleraine
	9 Kirk Avenue Magherafelt
	1d Monaghan Street, Newry
	31-33 High Street, Portadown
	21b Catherine Street, Limavady
	Unit 2, 21-23 Carnmoney Road, Glengormley,
	Unit 5, Antrim Technology Park, Belfast Road,
	2 Church Street, Downpatrick
	30 Northlands Row, Dungannon
	Unit 4, Wallace Studios, 27 Wallace Avenue, Lisburn
	Argyle Business Centre, 39 North Howard Street, Belfast
	Sally Gardens Community Centre, Sally Garden Lane, Belle Steel Road, Poleglass.

Departmental ICT

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the value of his Department's computer systems  (a) was at the time of purchase and  (b) is now.

Shaun Woodward: The Department's Fixed Asset Register, excluding its agencies and Executive NDPBs, records details of computer systems under IT equipment, this includes computer hardware, software, licenses, servers and output devices.
	The last audited records at 31 March 2008 show that the purchase cost of current IT equipment was 21,249,160 and the net book value of this equipment at that time was 8,814,268.
	The Department's resource accounts comply with the Financial Reporting Manual (FReM).

Departmental ICT

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of his Department's staff have access to the Department's IT infrastructure at home.

Shaun Woodward: At present 18 staff have access to the Northern Ireland Office IT Infrastructure at home.

Departmental Manpower

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many permanent staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies are classed as (i) staff without posts and (ii) part of a people action team.

Shaun Woodward: In relation to the first part of this question the number of staff classed as without post within the Northern Ireland Office is very small and consequently we cannot provide further information in order to respect the privacy of the individuals concerned.
	Where staff are classed as without post, the Department ensures that the individuals concerned receive active support to help them find a post quickly. Access to vacancy information within the Department, other Northern Ireland Departments and across Whitehall Departments is provided and while without posts the Department ensures that the staff are actively engaged in temporary tasks or project work.
	In relation to the second part of the question no members of staff within the  (a) Department or  (b) its agencies have been identified as being part of a people action team.

Departmental Pay

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the average pay per hour worked by  (a) permanent and  (b) temporary staff in his Department in the last period for which figures are available, broken down by pay band.

Shaun Woodward: The estimate of the average pay per hour worked by  (a) permanent and  (b) temporary staff in the Northern Ireland Office for the 2007-08 financial year, for which figures are available, are shown in the following table.
	
		
			   
			  Grade  Permanent hourly rate  Temporary hourly rate 
			 A 20.21 18.10 
			 B1 15.97 16.25 
			 B2 12.14 12.14 
			 C 9.79 9.99 
			 D1 7.00 n/a 
			 D2 5.98 5.78 
		
	
	Temporary and permanent staff are paid from the same pay scales but fluctuations in average amounts paid may occur for a number of reasons. For example, if there are a large number of permanent staff with long service who are in the upper reaches of the pay band then the average amount paid to temporary staff, in the same grade, will be lower. Similarly if there are a large number of staff with short service in the lower reaches of the pay band and temporary staff have negotiated starting salaries based on increased skills and experience, the temporary staff average will be higher. There are no temporary D1 staff and we do not hold average pay for hours worked for senior civil service staff as they do not work contracted hours.

Departmental Pay

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by special advisers in his Department in each of the last 10 years.

Shaun Woodward: Reimbursable expenses claimed by special advisers in the Northern Ireland Office in the last 10 years are shown in the following table.
	
		
			
			 1999-2000 0 
			 2000-01 0 
			 2001-02 928.03 
			 2002-03 1,211.68 
			 2003-04 7,010.99 
			 2004-05 11,579.84 
			 2005-06 9,182.01 
			 2006-07 1,952.94 
			 2007-08 1,637.01 
			 2008-09 379.51 
		
	
	Procedures for reimbursing staff expenses are set out in their staff handbooks and are in line with the provisions set out in the Civil Service Management Code. The code can be viewed at:
	www.civilservice.gov.uk/iam/codes/csmc/index.asp

Departmental Planning Permission

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what  (a) planning applications and  (b) licensing applications his Department has submitted in the last 24 months.

Shaun Woodward: My Department has not submitted any planning or licensing applications in the last 24 months.

Departmental Press

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent by his Department on subscriptions for magazines, newspapers and other publications in each of the last 24 months.

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office's total expenditure on newspapers and other publications for the last 24 months are shown in the following table; it is not possible to identify the costs which relate to subscriptions.
	
		
			   
			  Month  Newspapers expenditure  Other publications expenditure 
			 July 2006 2,928 12,658 
			 August 2006 6,820 25,279 
			 September 2006 4,304 38,281 
			 October 2006 5,776 25,197 
			 November 2006 9,027 41,391 
			 December 2006 4,229 44,925 
			 January 2007 7,430 42,948 
			 February 2007 5,140 29,330 
			 March 2007 5,655 27,572 
			 April 2007 6,020 17,007 
			 May 2007 3,930 27,229 
			 June 2007 8,582 6,317 
			 July 2007 1,840 13,887 
			 August 2007 5,009 22,587 
			 September 2007 6,309 18,385 
			 October 2007 6,676 26,437 
			 November 2007 3,918 26,571 
			 December 2007 2,892 28,947 
			 January 2008 5,639 35,456 
			 February 2008 3,948 21,085 
			 March 2008 5,250 19,875 
			 April 2008 3,582 17,099 
			 May 2008 5,469 28,895 
			 June 2008 4,355 30,421 
			  Note:  Expenditure for magazines is included within the other publications expenditure and could be provided separately only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Public Expenditure

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department spent on  (a) new furnishings,  (b) art and  (c) new vehicles in (i) 2006-07 and (ii) 2007-08.

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office records expenditure for new furnishings under the description of furniture and no specific budget is set aside for the purchase of art works. The Department also has fit-out costs for its buildings, this may include expenditure on furniture but it is not possible to isolate these costs.
	The Northern Ireland Office has not purchased any new vehicles during these periods.
	
		
			   Furniture () 
			 2006-07 277,400 
			 2007-08 387,775 
			 Total 665,175

Departmental Vetting

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what procedures his Department follows for checking the criminal records of employees; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: All appointees to the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) are subject to the requirements of HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS). This includes a criminal record check by AccessNI of unspent convictions.
	For posts included within the scope of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 and the Rehabilitation of Offenders (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 (Exceptions) Order 1979 spent convictions and cautions are also checked.

Departmental Vetting

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of successful applicants for jobs in his Department are subjected to a criminal records check; how many  (a) successful applicants and  (b) criminal records checks there were in each of the last 10 years; how many successful applicants were found to have a criminal record after a criminal records check took place in each of the last 10 years; whether the selection of successful candidates to be subjected to a criminal records check is random or targeted; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: All successful applicants for jobs in the NIO are subjected to a criminal records check; these checks are not on a random or targeted basis but are compulsory pre-employment checks.
	Recruitment to the Northern Ireland Office and the 11 NI Departments is administered centrally. The detailed information requested on successful applicants and criminal records checks is not available for individual Departments.

Departmental Visits Abroad

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost of overseas visits by each Minister in his Department has been since 1997.

Shaun Woodward: Since 1999 the Government have published the total cost of all overseas travel by Ministers and a list of all overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers costing over 500. Information for the last financial year was published on 25 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1112W. Details for the financial year 2007-08 will be published before the summer recess and will include details of overseas visits undertaken by all Ministers. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code.
	Information in respect of overseas visits by all Ministers for the period 1997-99 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Written Questions

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how long on average his Department took to answer  (a) ordinary written and  (b) named day questions in each of the last three years.

Shaun Woodward: The information requested is not available in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The following table provides figures for the percentage of questions answered within the deadlines.
	
		
			   Ordinary written  Named day 
			   Total number of questions  Percentage on time  Total number of questions  Percentage on time 
			 2006 3,284 63 615 41 
			 2007 1,127 66 223 52 
			 2008 (up to 30 June) 327 35 72 46

Economic and Monetary Union

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what date the euro changeover plan of  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its agencies was last updated; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent version of each.

Shaun Woodward: The Northern Ireland Office's Euro-Changeover Plan was last updated in May 2007 and covers the core Department its agencies and NDPB's. The plan has not been published and there are no plans to do so due to the restricted material included in the plan.

Food

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much was spent by his Department on  (a) food and  (b) food of British origin in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: My Department does not keep records on the amount spent on food or its origin. However where possible when procuring food we look to source from local suppliers and to use local produce.
	It is my understanding that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) propose to publish data by the end of 2008 on the proportion of domestically produced food used by Government Departments.

Food

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland from which five countries of origin the greatest amount of food was procured by his Department in the last year for which figures are available; and what the  (a) cost and  (b) quantity procured was in each case.

Shaun Woodward: My Department does not keep records on the country of origin, cost or quantity of the food we procure. However where possible when procuring food we look to source from local suppliers and to use local produce.
	It is my understanding that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) propose to publish data by the end of 2008 on the proportion of domestically produced food used by Government Departments.

TREASURY

Departmental Official Hospitality

David Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 19 November 2007,  Official Report, column 581W, on departmental official hospitality, when he expects the list of hospitality received in 2007 by members of his Department's board to be published.

Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Member to the answer the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster gave him on 7 May 2008,  Official Report, column 885W.

Departmental Postal Services

Sarah Teather: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much his Department spent on sending mail overseas in each year since 2001, broken down by delivery company.

Angela Eagle: Statistics on the destination of mail are not held by the Treasury's postal services provider.

Departmental Press

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent by his Department on subscriptions for magazines, newspapers and other publications in each of the last 24 months.

Angela Eagle: Treasury spending on newspapers and periodicals in 2006-07 and 2007-08 was 109,000 and 112,000 respectively. Payments for newspapers and periodicals are not generally made on a monthly basis therefore provision of the data for each of the last 24 months could be misleading.

Departmental Sick Pay

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was paid in sick pay to staff in  (a) his Department,  (b) its agencies and  (c) the non-departmental bodies for which it has responsibility in each of the last five years; what proportion of the annual staffing expenditure of each body this represented in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: In respect of the Treasury, the Office of Government Commerce and Debt Management, sick absence is recorded separately on the payroll but information relating to sick pay is not available.
	For OGC Buying Solutions, the information is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Period  Amount paid in sick pay ()  Proportion of the annual staffing expenditure (Percentage) 
			 2007-08 222,200 2 
			 2006-07 281,954 3 
			 2005-06 168,928 2 
			 2004-05 150,222 2 
			 2003-04 161,456 2

Departmental Visits Abroad

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost of overseas visits by each Minister in his Department has been since 1997.

Angela Eagle: Since 1999 the Government have published the total cost of all overseas travel by Ministers and a list of all overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers costing over 500. Information for the last financial year was published on 25 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1112W. Details for the financial year 2007-08 will be published before the summer recess and will include details of overseas visits undertaken by all Ministers. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code.
	Information in respect of overseas visits by all Ministers for the period 1997-1999 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Excise Duties: Fuels

Richard Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which road transport organisations receive rebates of fuel duty; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: No road transport organisations receive rebates of main road fuel duty. However, rebated gas oiloften known as red dieselcan be used in agriculture and certain vehicles that are exclusively used off-road. This includes road construction vehicles, digging machines, mobile cranes works trucks, snow clearing machines and gritters.
	Red diesel is subject to a duty rate of 9.69p per litre, in comparison to the rate that is applied to main road fuels of 50.35p per litre.

Excise Duties: Motor Vehicles

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the change in revenue from vehicle excise duty resulting from the change in the effective registration date for band F vehicles from 23 March 2006 to 1 March 2001 set out on page 122 of the Budget 2008 Red Book; what estimate he has made of the number of vehicles affected; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how much and what proportion of the projected increase in revenue from vehicle excise duty by 2010-11 noted in table 1.2, page 9 of the Budget 2008 Red Book is accounted for by the move of the qualifying registration date for new cars in band F from 23 March 2006 to 1 March 2001; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  on what date he decided that those vehicles registered after 1 March 2001 and falling within vehicle excise duty band F would fall within new bank K in 2009-10 and new band L in 2010-11; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: Budget 2008 announced reforms of the graduated vehicle excise duty structure to strengthen the environmental incentive to develop and purchase fuel-efficient cars.
	This includes cars that emit over 225 grams per kilometre, but were purchased after March 2001 and up until March 2006. For historical reasons, these cars pay only 210, while others that emit the same amount, but were purchased from April 2006, pay 400. The Budget included policy to move them to the band appropriate to their emissions levels, but in order to reduce the additional tax paid by these cars in one individual year, it was decided at Budget 2008 that this would be staggered, so thatrather than moving immediately to their correct band, paying 415 or 440 in 2009these cars would move to Band K in 2009, paying only 300, before moving to their correct band in 2010, paying either 430 or 455 annually.
	There are estimated to be around 3.8 million cars in Band F in total in 2007-08including all cars that emit over 186 grams per kilometre of carbon dioxide and were purchased between 2001 and March 2006, and all cars that emit between 186 g/km and 225 g/km and were purchased since March 2006. It is estimated that in 2008-09 there would be around 1.1 million cars (about 3.8 per cent. of all cars) in Band F that were registered before 2006 and emit 226 g/km or more, but this figure would be expected to fall in future years. No estimate has been made of the revenue impact of including this category of cars within their correct emissions band.

Excise Duties: Motor Vehicles

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of motorists who will be liable for vehicle excise duty at  (a) a higher,  (b) a lower and  (c) the same rate in 2010-11 compared with 2007-08 following the entry into force of the rates announced in Budget 2008; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what proportion of Band C cars on which vehicle excise duty (VED) was payable in  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 2008-09 will be liable for (i) a higher rate, (ii) a lower rate and (iii) the same rate of vehicle excise duty in (A) 2009-10 and (B) 2010-11; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the proportion of motorists who pay vehicle excise duty (VED) on a Band F car and will pay  (a) a higher rate,  (b) a lower rate and  (c) the same rate of VED on the same car in (i) 2008-09, (ii) 2009-10 and (iii) 2010-11; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  what proportion of Band G cars on which vehicle excise duty (VED) was payable in  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 2008-09 will be liable for (i) a higher rate, (ii) a lower rate and (iii) the same rate of VED in (A) 2009-10 and (B) 2010-11; and if he will make a statement;
	(5)  what proportion of Band F cars on which vehicle excise duty (VED) was payable in 2007-08 will be liable for  (a) a higher rate,  (b) a lower rate and  (c) the same rate of VED in (i) 2009-10 and (ii) 2010-11; and if he will make a statement;
	(6)  what proportion of Band D cars on which vehicle excise duty (VED) was payable in  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 2008-09 will be liable for (i) a higher rate, (ii) a lower rate and (iii) the same rate of VED in (A) 2009-10 and (B) 2010-11; and if he will make a statement;
	(7)  what proportion of Band E cars on which vehicle excise duty (VED) was payable in  (a) 2007-08 and  (b) 2008-09 will be liable for (i) a higher rate, (ii) a lower rate and (iii) the same rate of VED in (A) 2009-10 and (B) 2010-11; and if he will make a statement;
	(8)  pursuant to the Financial Secretary's statement of 14 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1471, on vehicle excise duty, what methodology his Department used to estimate that a third of drivers would be better off in 2009-10; what assessment his Department has made of the proportion of drivers who will be no worse off in 2009-10; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: As a result of the Vehicle Excise Duty reforms announced at Budget 2008, in 2009-10, it is estimated that within the 13 new bands, a third of cars will be better off in real terms, and in total, approximately 55 per cent. of cars will be no worse off.
	This figure was estimated by looking at the forecast number of cars within graduated VED in 2009-10taking into account all vehicles on the road by the end of that financial year (2009-10). The level of VED due in 2009-10 was then compared with the amount that would have been paid in 2008-09 in real terms.
	The tables present both the total stock forecast to be in each new VED band in 2009-10 and 2010-11, and also the estimated percentage of cars within each new band that will: pay less, pay the same or pay more in real terms, compared with the previous system.
	The stock forecasts are based on DVLA data that was available at the time of the Budget. The Government have not calculated similar figures comparing 2009-10 and 2010-11 rates with those in 2007-08.
	
		
			  2009-10 
			 Percentage 
			  Band  C O 2  (g/km)  2009-10  Pay less  Pay the same  Pay more 
			 A Up to 100 400 0 100 0 
			 B 101-110 217,000 100 0 0 
			 C 111-120 470,000 100 0 0 
			 D 121-130 670,000 100 0 0 
			 E 131-140 2,394,000 100 0 0 
			 F 141-150 3,087,000 100 0 0 
			 G 151-160 3,256,000 0 100 0 
			 H 161-170 2,400,000 0 50 50 
			 I 171-180 1,785,000 0 0 100 
			 J 181-200 2,577,000 0 0 100 
			 K 201-225 2,550,000 0 0 100 
			 L 226-255 277000 0 0 100 
			 M Over 255 311000 0 0 100 
			 All bands  19,994,000 34 22 44 
		
	
	
		
			  2010-11 
			 Percentage 
			  Band  C O 2  (g/km)  2010-11  Pay less  Pay the same  Pay more 
			 A Up to 100 9,000 0 100 0 
			 B 101-110 266,000 100 0 0 
			 C 111-120 565,000 20 80 0 
			 D 121-130 822,000 100 0 0 
			 E 131-140 2,813,000 100 0 0 
			 F 141-150 3,393,000 0 100 0 
			 G 151-160 3,560,000 0 100 0 
			 H 161-170 2,558,000 0 40 60 
			 I 171-180 1,912,000 0 0 100 
			 J 181-200 2,714,000 0 0 100 
			 K 201-225 1,535,000 0 0 100 
			 L(1) 226-255 1,002,000 0 0 100 
			 M(1) Over 255 766,000 0 0 100 
			 All bands  21,915,000 18 39 43 
			 (1) Denotes those where the number of cars is forecast to increase in 2010not because the overall number of more polluting cars is forecast to increasebut because cars that currently emit these levels of carbon dioxide will for the first time be placed in their correct band. 
		
	
	I also refer the hon. Member to the answer I am giving her today in response to questions (UIN) 204170, 204172 and 204173.

Excise Duties: Motor Vehicles

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Financial Secretary's statement of 14 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1471, on vehicle excise duty, 
	(1)  if he will  (a) list the 30 most popular models of car and  (b) state the evidential basis for the assessment of their popularity; how many versions of each model will attract vehicle excise duty at (i) an increased, (ii) a decreased and (iii) the same rate as a result of the Budget 2008 changes; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the 24 models of car are whose drivers will be better off as a result of the graduated vehicle excise duty changes announced in the Budget 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The latest information available to Government on the 30 most popular versions of car comes from commercial sales data purchased from JATO Dynamics Ltd. for 2007. JATO is a leading provider of data in the automotive intelligence field and has partnerships with a large number of motor manufacturers around the world. Sales data are obtained from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and JATO then match this to vehicle specifications (including official carbon dioxide figures) which are provided to them by manufacturers and importers.
	The level of detail that they can provide is available only from a very small number of sources.
	A table showing a list of the top 30 model versions, in order of popularity, alongside their average carbon dioxide emissions, and the potential impact of the Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) reforms announced at Budget 2008 is as follows. This shows thatin real termsat least 24 out of the 30 most popular car model versions in 2007 will be better off, or no worse off, in 2009 as a result of the reforms announced at Budget 2008.
	It is worth noting that two versions of a very similar Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 litre unleaded appear in the figures. This is because JATO do not have a record of whether a normal or 'Easytronic' transmission is used by this particular vehicle. Arguably, if this vehicle were counted separately, then there would in fact be 25 out of the top 30 cars that are no worse off; however the Government have assumed 24 out of 30.
	
		
			  Make  Model  Body type  No. of doors  Engine litres  Fuel type  Transmission type  Transmission description  No. of speeds  2007 volume  Average CO 2  2009 band  Current band  Current band 
			 Vauxhall Astra hatchback 5 1.6 unleaded manual manual 5 10,188 156 G D The same 
			 Honda Jazz hatchback 5 1.3 unleaded automatic continuously trans with manual mode variable 10,341 139 E C Pay less 
			 Vauxhall(1) Corsa hatchback 3 1.2 unleaded manual manual 5 10,449 142 F C Pay less 
			 Vauxhall Corsa hatchback 5 1.2 unleaded manual  5 11,190 140 E C Pay less 
			 Vauxhall Astra hatchback 5 1.4 unleaded manual manual 5 11,563 147 F C Pay less 
			 Fiat Punto hatchback 3 1.2 unleaded manual manual 5 11,626 139 E C Pay less 
			 Volkswagen Passat sedan 4 2.0 diesel manual  6 11,825 157 G D The same 
			 Land Rover Freelander sport utility vehicle 5 2.2 diesel manual manual 6 12,061 194 J F Pay more 
			 Toyota Auris hatchback 5 1.6 unleaded manual  5 12,115 164 H D Pay more 
			 Honda Civic hatchback 5 1.8 unleaded manual manual 6 12,297 153 G D The same 
			 Honda Civic hatchback 5 2.2 diesel manual manual 6 12,470 137 E C Pay less 
			 Volkswagen Golf hatchback 5 1.6 unleaded manual  6 12,890 160 G D The same 
			 Toyota Yaris hatchback 5 1.3 unleaded manual  5 13,190 140 E C Pay less 
			 Honda Cr-V sport utility vehicle 5 2.2 diesel manual manual 6 13,262 173 I E Pay more 
			 Ford Focus hatchback 5 1.6 unleaded manual manual 5 13,457 156 G D The same 
			 Honda Jazz hatchback 5 1.3 unleaded manual manual 5 13,595 137 E C Pay less 
			 Fiat Punto hatchback 5 1.2 unleaded manual manual 5 14,039 140 E C Pay less 
			 Ford Focus hatchback 5 1.8 unleaded manual manual 5 14,079 168 H E The same 
			 Peugeot 207 hatchback 5 1.4 unleaded manual manual 5 15,016 152 G D The same 
			 Mini Mini hatchback 3 1.6 unleaded manual manual 6 15,290 134 E C Pay less 
			 Ford Focus hatchback 5 1.8 diesel manual manual 5 16,218 137 E C Pay less 
			 Volkswagen Golf hatchback 5 1.9 diesel manual manual 5 17,541 131 E C Pay less 
			 Vauxhall(1) Corsa hatchback 3 1.2 unleaded manual  5 17,631 141 F C Pay less 
			 Ford Fiesta hatchback 5 1.4 unleaded manual manual 5 17,891 147 F C Pay less 
			 Vauxhall Vectra hatchback 5 1.8 unleaded manual manual 5 19,542 173 I E Pay more 
			 Vauxhall Zafira mini MPV 5 1.6 unleaded manual manual 5 20,374 175 I E Pay more 
			 Ford Fiesta hatchback 5 1.2 unleaded manual manual 5 21,450 142 F C Pay less 
			 Ford Focus hatchback 5 1.6 unleaded manual manual 5 22,998 160 G D The same 
			 Ford Ka mini car 3 1.3 unleaded manual manual 5 26,252 147 F C Pay less 
			 Ford Fiesta hatchback 3 1.2 unleaded manual manual 5 29,248 142 F C Pay less 
			 (1) We have assumed these are one model version due to lack of data over transmission.

Excise Duties: Motor Vehicles

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the Financial Secretary's statement of 14 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1474, on vehicle excise duty, what assumptions his Department made of the breakdown of annual carbon dioxide savings between 2010 to 2020 in making the forecast of a 1.3 million tonnes carbon dioxide emission saving by 2020.

Angela Eagle: The Government's current calculation is that the contribution made by VED to delivering the proposed EU regulation on new car CO2 will amount to a cumulative total of around 1.3 million tonnes of CO2 by 2020. This is an estimate produced from modelling based on an econometric study by Economics for the Environment Consultancy (EFTEC), published in December 2007.

Sequestration of Assets: Iran

William Hague: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of funds in the UK is frozen in accordance with Council Decision 2008/475/EC of 23 June 2008 concerning restrictive measures against Iran.

Kitty Ussher: All funds belonging to, owned, held or controlled by Bank Melli Iran and its subsidiaries and branches, including Melli Bank plc., in the UK are frozen in accordance with Council Decision 2008/475/EC of 23 June 2008. We do not provide details of individual entities' funds, whether they are natural or legal persons, as this would breach their confidentiality.

Sequestration of Assets: UN Resolutions

William Hague: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount of funds in the UK is frozen in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution  (a) 1737 (2006),  (b) 1747 (2007) and  (c) 1803 (2008).

Kitty Ussher: All funds belonging to, owned, held or controlled by Bank Sepah Iran and Bank Sepah International plc. in the UK are frozen in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions 1737 (2006), 1747 (2007) and 1803 (2008). No other entities designated by these measures hold funds in the UK. We do not provide details of individual entities' funds, whether they are natural or legal persons, as this would breach their confidentiality.
	Since the introduction of these measures, HM Treasury has licensed payments out of the frozen funds in accordance with the exemptions provided in the UN Security Council resolutions.

Social Security Benefits: Elderly

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the estimated annual cost to the Exchequer was of people over 65 years of age being  (a) on benefits and  (b) drawing pensions in the last period for which figures are available.

Mike O'Brien: I have been asked to reply.
	Benefits paid by the Department for Work and Pensions in 2007-08 to people aged 65 and over were  (a) 21.45 billion in benefits other than the state pension and  (b) 51.16 billion for the state pension. Information on other costs to the Exchequer (administration costs) is not available.
	 Source
	Departmental Accounting and statistical data
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 10 million and are consistent with figures for expenditure directed at people over working age in table 5 of the expenditure tables available at the following link:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd4/expenditure.asp
	The difference is that the aforementioned figures exclude expenditure directed at people aged 60 to 64.
	The figures relate to those benefits for which DWP has policy responsibility and therefore only cover Great Britain (except for Over 75 TV Licences, included in the total at  (a), where the annual cost also covers Northern Ireland).

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

African Union: Zimbabwe

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the African Union to recommend the suspension of Zimbabwe from that body.

Meg Munn: We will continue to talk to both the African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community at both official and ministerial level about how best to resolve the situation, but ultimately it is a decision for the AU as to whether they decide to suspend Zimbabwe from the Union.

Caribbean Community: Montserrat

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has agreed to the request of the Chief Minister of Montserrat for the island's accession to the Caribbean community single market and economy.

Meg Munn: I wrote to the Chief Minister of Montserrat on 12 June 2008 responding to his Government's request to join the Caribbean Community Single Market and Economy. Given the recognised internal capacity constraints in Montserrat, I explained that it would be more appropriate to focus on the key economic priorities identified in the new Montserrat Sustainable Development Plan, rather than prepare for the Caribbean Community Single Market and Economy. The Sustainable Development Plan is more likely to support Montserrat's aim of economic self-sufficiency. I suggested to the Chief Minister that the Government of Montserrat defer the question of accession for two years or until such time as levels of economic activity and capacity are sufficiently enhanced to enable Montserrat to be able to take full advantage of the benefits of membership. I also offered to discuss these issues in more detail with Chief Minister Lewis when he visits London for the Overseas Territories Consultative Council in October.

China: Olympic Games

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with the Chinese Government on restrictions imposed on Tibetans during the parade of the Olympic torch in Lhasa.

Meg Munn: We are aware that the Olympic torch passed through Lhasa on 21 June. While the passage of the Olympic torch through any country is a matter for the authorities there, we have made clear to the Chinese authorities our view that people should be able to express their political and religious views peacefully.
	We have discussed the issue of Tibet with the Chinese Government at the highest levels since the unrest there in March, including when my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met the Chinese Foreign Minister on 12 June in Paris.

Departmental Buildings

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department has spent on  (a) new capital investment in and  (b) refurbishment of departmental property in (i) each UK overseas post and (ii) the UK since 2002.

David Miliband: Details of the total capital investment including major refurbishment on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) estate are listed in the annual Departmental Report.
	The following table lists the figures published in previous Departmental Reports for investment in the estate for financial years 2002-03 to 2006-07. Figures for financial year 2007-08 will be published in the 2008-09 Departmental Report.
	Budgets for minor refurbishment to our overseas estate are devolved to posts. As this information is not held centrally, the FCO would incur a disproportionate cost in providing figures for expenditure on capital investment and refurbishment by posts.
	
		
			 million 
			  Financial year  UK  Overseas 
			 2002-03 0.7 50 
			 2003-04 2.7 45 
			 2004-05 2.3 58 
			 2005-06 7.8 71.5 
			 2006-07 21 63.1

Departmental Manpower

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many permanent staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies are classed as (i) staff without posts and (ii) part of a people action team.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) operates a corporate pool, which comprises staff without a permanent position, staff on maternity leave and staff on long-term sick leave. All staff in the corporate pool, other than those on maternity leave and long-term sick leave, are available for temporary deployment in the UK. They can also be deployed overseas to assist, for example, with consular support following natural disasters or emergencies.
	On 1 June 2008 there were 212 staff (4.1 per cent. of the UK civil servants in the FCO) in the corporate pool. All but 11 of these staff were temporarily deployed filling short-term vacancies or working on corporate projects.
	The FCO does not use the term people action team.

Departmental Official Hospitality

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 26 November 2007,  Official Report, column 216W, on Departmental official hospitality, when he expects the list of hospitality received by senior civil servants in his Department in 2007 to be published.

Meg Munn: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster gave to him on 7 May 2008,  Official Report, column 885W.

Departmental Pay

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by special advisers in his Department in each of the last 10 years.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office paid the amounts shown as follows to special advisers in reimbursable expenses in the calendar years 2005 to 2008. We do not hold in our central records details of expense claims submitted before 2005.
	
		
			   Amounts paid to special advisors () 
			 2005 388.36 
			 2006 24,198.00 
			 2007 12,002.00 
			 2008 (to date) 176.00

Departmental Planning Permission

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what  (a) planning applications and  (b) licensing applications his Department has submitted in the last 24 months.

Meg Munn: In the UK, the following planning applications have been made in the last 24 months:
	adaptations to the entrance to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) main building, King Charles Street;
	faade works to both the main building and the Old Admiralty Building;
	alterations to the third floor of the Old Admiralty Building; and
	works to the first floor heating at Lancaster House.
	In addition, a number of planning applications have been submitted by agents/contractors acting on our behalf, both in the UK and overseas. To report on each of these applications would require making enquiries with all of our agents/contractors and would incur a disproportionate cost.
	In the UK, the FCO has made four licence applications in the last 24 months; one each year for the main building and our Hanslope Park site. License applications overseas are not held centrally and would incur a disproportionate cost to compile.

Departmental Public Expenditure

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 23 June 2008,  Official Report, column 75W, on departmental public expenditure, what net effect foreign exchange movements had on his Department's budget in each year from 2001-02 to 2007-08.

David Miliband: Adjustments to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) budget to take account of the net effect of foreign exchange rate movements and overseas inflationoverseas price mechanism (OPM)are made in supplementary estimates and are set out in the following table:
	
		
			  OPM adjustment ( 000) 
			  FCO  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Resource 7,425 -9,544 -2,218 -12,142 -2,963 -10,448 -14,992 
			 Capital 828 -585 9 -411 360 -318 -282 
			 British Council 2,037 -2,206 -565 -1,557 1,407 821 1,359 
			  Note: Negative figures in table indicate that the FCO returned money to the Reserve 
		
	
	Because of the timing of the Spring Supplementary Estimates, they can only take account of changes known as at December in the year concerned. Exchange rate and inflation changes for the rest of that financial year are accounted for in the following year's estimate. For that reason the figures above correspond more closely to the impact of OPM in the calendar, rather than financial, year. The FCO calculates that the effect of exchange rate changes and inflation on the FCO budget since the last Spring Supplementary Estimate is 28.9 million of which 22 million is due to exchange rate effects.

Departmental Television

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what premium Sky, digital terrestrial or cable television channels  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its agencies subscribes; and at what yearly cost in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not hold this information centrally and to respond would incur a disproportionate cost.

Departmental Written Questions

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how long on average his Department took to answer  (a) ordinary written and  (b) named day questions in each of the last three years.

Meg Munn: The following table shows the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's ordinary written and named day parliamentary questions statistics in each of the last three years:
	
		
			   Ordinary written parliamentary questions answered within five parliamentary sitting days  Named day written parliamentary questions answered on the named day 
			   Number  Percentage  Number  Percentage 
			 2006-07 2,334 out of 3,311 70 553 out of 672 82 
			 2005-06 2,527 out of 3,136 81 544 out of 701 78 
			 2004-05 1,760 out of 2,704 65 362 out of 574 63

Embassies: Foreign Workers

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which UK missions overseas are run by locally-engaged staff.

David Miliband: The following missions are run by locally-engaged staff:
	
		
			  Country  Mission 
			 Australia Brisbane 
			 Australia Perth 
			 Bangladesh Sylhet 
			 Brazil Porto alegre 
			 Brazil Recife 
			 Canada Calgary 
			 France Bordeaux 
			 France Lyon 
			 France Marseille 
			 Greece Corfu 
			 Greece Heraklion 
			 Greece Salonika 
			 Haiti Port-au-Prince 
			 India Ahmedabad 
			 India Chandigarh 
			 India Goa 
			 India Hyderabad 
			 India Pune 
			 Italy Florence 
			 Italy Naples 
			 Mali Bamako 
			 Mexico Guadalajara 
			 Mexico Tijuana 
			 Mexico Cancun 
			 Morocco Tangier 
			 New Zealand Auckland 
			 Niger Niamey 
			 Nigeria Kaduna 
			 Nigeria Port Harcourt 
			 Pakistan Lahore 
			 Portugal Portimoa 
			 South Africa Durban 
			 Spain Alicante 
			 Spain Bilbao 
			 Spain Ibiza 
			 Spain Las Palmas 
			 Spain Malaga 
			 Spain Santa Cruz de Tenerife 
			 Spain Palma 
			 St. Vincent Kingstown 
			 Syria Aleppo 
			 Togo Lome 
			 Turkey Antalya 
			 Turkey Izmir 
			 USA Orlando 
			 USA Seattle

Languages

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which foreign language training providers are providing language training services to his Department under framework agreements.

David Miliband: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has signed a framework agreement with 15 foreign language training providers shown as follows:
	Ana Lazarevic;
	Communicaid;
	European Business School London;
	Farnham Castle Language Group;
	Gateway;
	Institut Francais;
	King's College London;
	L2 Language and Cultural Services;
	Language Services Direct;
	Language Studies International;
	London School of Economics;
	Linguarama;
	Rainbow Language in Business;
	School of Oriental and African Studies; and
	World Language Consultants.
	As at 1 July 2008, the 11 suppliers currently providing language training are:
	Ana Lazarevic;
	Communicaid;
	Gateway;
	Institut Francais;
	King's College London;
	L2 Language and Cultural Services;
	Language Services Direct;
	Linguarama;
	Rainbow Language in Business;
	School of Oriental and African Studies; and
	World Language Consultants.

Middle East: Armed Conflict

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of the number of  (a) rockets and  (b) mortar bombs launched into Israeli territory from Gaza since 19th June 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: We have received reports that ten home-made rockets and mortar shells have been fired into Israeli territory from Gaza since 19 June.
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary welcomed the ceasefire that began on 19 June and commended the role Egypt played in getting this to happen. We urge all parties to abide by the commitments they have made. Palestinian militant groups must stop firing rockets into Israel and the Israeli government should ensure that important humanitarian aid and supplies can get through to Gaza.

Western Sahara: Human Rights

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Government will make it their policy to seek the implementation of the recommendations of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Mission to the Western Sahara and the refugee camps in Tindourf, with particular reference to the monitoring of the human rights situation in Western Sahara and the refugee camps.

Meg Munn: The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) visited the region in 2006 to gather information on the human rights situation. The OHCHR shared its report privately with Morocco, Algeria and the Polisario on 8 September 2006 but, in accordance with the terms of reference agreed between the parties, did not publish it. I understand the OHCHR maintains its decision not to make the report public, and the UK respects this decision.
	The UK is concerned that the conflict in Western Sahara remains unresolved and the impact on the humanitarian situation in the region. We are keen to see a resolution to the situation in Western Sahara. To this end, the UK fully supports the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Peter Van Walsum, to assist the parties to achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political solution which will provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. We support the process of UN-chaired negotiations between Morocco and the Polisario currently under way. Success in these negotiations depends upon building greater confidence between the parties. In this respect, the UK remains open to supporting UN human rights monitoring in Western Sahara if it can be shown to enhance rather than obstruct the mutual confidence of the parties.

Zimbabwe: Sequestration of Assets

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the effect of freezing Zimbabwean assets on Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: There is no legal authority for a blanket freeze of all Zimbabwean assets in the UK but we are looking at a range of targeted options which impact on those specifically responsible for the crisis in Zimbabwe. This could include extending the existing EU targeted measures which have already frozen the bank accounts and prevented the travel to the EU of 131 named regime members. In considering these options we shall take full account of the likely impact of any new measures on ordinary Zimbabweans.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Amusement Arcades: Coastal Areas

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the economic effect on seaside arcades of B3 machine entitlement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: My written statement of 25 June 2008,  Official Report, column 15WS, set out the Government's response to representations from sectors of the gambling industry seeking changes to the regulatory regime for gaming machines in arcades and bingo halls. My statement confirmed that the Government are taking steps to help premises such as seaside arcades by bringing forward to this year the review of category C and D gaming machine stake and prize limits.
	Category B3 gaming machines are high stake, high prize gaming machines with a maximum prize of 500. Only arcades to which children do not have accesstermed adult gaming centres in the legislationare permitted to offer such machines. Seaside arcades to which children have access, termed family entertainment centres, are not permitted category B3 gaming machines, only category C and D machines.

Brass Bands: Finance

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what financial support his Department provides to brass bands associated with former coal fields.

Margaret Hodge: The Department's funding for the arts in general, and brass bands in particular, is channelled through Arts Council England. In the last five years, the Arts Council has provided lottery funding for activities or projects that involve brass and silver bands as set out in the following table. This funding is not monitored by whether the band is associated with former coal fields.
	
		
			   
			   Activities or projects that involve brass or silver bands to some extent  Activities or projects that predominantly or wholly involve brass or silver bands  Total 
			 2003-04 39,315 35,860 75,175 
			 2004-05 78,958 60,521 139,479 
			 2005-06 72,214 23,687 95,901 
			 2006-07 21,890 67,410 89,300 
			 2007-08 10,432 13,930 24,362 
			 Total 222,809 201,408 424,217 
		
	
	In addition, Youth Music (which distributes lottery funds on behalf of the Arts Council) has provided financial support to the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain as set out in the following table:
	
		
			  National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain 
			
			 2003-04 100,000 
			 2004-05 110,000 
			 2005-06 120,000 
			 2006-07 120,000 
			 2007-08 123,000 
			 Total 573,000

Departmental Freedom of Information

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many freedom of information requests his Department received in each of the last three years; and in how many the information requested was  (a) given within 20 working days,  (b) given after more than 20 working days,  (c) given in part within 20 working days,  (d) given in part after more than 20 working days and  (e) refused.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Statistics relating to the handling of information requests received in 2007 by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 ('the Act'), are contained in the Ministry of Justice Third Annual Report on the operation of the FOI Act in Central Government 2007, published on 18 June 2008.
	The report can be found at the following address:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/docs/foi-report-2007-final-web.pdf
	The Ministry of Justice website contains links to similar published statistics for 2006 and 2005. These can be found respectively at (in relation to 2006):
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/docs/foi-annual-report-central-gov-2006.pdf
	and (in relation to 2005):
	http://www.dca.gov.uk/foi/imprep/annrep05.pdf
	In addition, the Ministry of Justice publishes a quarterly statistical bulletin on the implementation in central Government of the FOI Act 2000. The latest report for Q1 (January-March) 2008 was published on 30 June 2008. This also contains some historical data of some of the key statistics on a quarterly basis since 1 January 2006. The latest quarterly report can be found at:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/docs/quarterly-stats-jan-mar-08.pdf
	The reports cover the implementation and operation of the Act in central Government. Statistical releases cover for each Department the numbers of requests received, timeliness of response, outcomes of requests, and usage of the Act's appeal processes. The annual reports draw together the quarterly statistics for one year and analyses the longer term trends.

Departmental Pay

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what estimate he has made of the average pay per hour worked by  (a) permanent and  (b) temporary staff in his Department in the last period for which figures are available, broken down by pay band.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information is shown in the table.
	
		
			   
			   DCMS staff  Agency staff 
			 SCS pay band 3 70.40  
			 SCS pay band 2 (includes 1a) 46.20  
			 SCS pay band 1 29.60  
			 Grade A upper 25.32  
			 Grade A lower 21.29  
			 Grade B 14.54 18.47 
			 Grade C 10.74 14.45 
			 Grade D 8.78 10.18 
		
	
	The average hourly rate for DCMS staff in the table has been calculated by taking the basic salary, dividing it by 52 and dividing by the gross conditioned hours (41). It does not include ERNIC and pension costs.
	The average hourly rates for agency staff have been calculated from the rates provided by the two main agencies used, the rates will include an allowance for the agencies' overheads and profit.

Departmental Sick Pay

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much sick pay to staff in his Department cost in the last five years for which figures are available.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information is in the table.
	
		
			  1 April to 31 March  Salary costs () 
			 2003-04 214,581 
			 2004-05 204,304 
			 2005-06 255,571 
			 2006-07 215,607 
			 2007-08 159,011 
		
	
	The information provided shows the salary costs and excludes employers' pension and national insurance contributions. These and other related information could be provided only at disproportionate costs.

Departmental Visits Abroad

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost of overseas visits by each Minister in his Department has been since 1997.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Since 1999 the Government have published the total cost of all overseas travel by Ministers and a list of all overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers costing over 500. Information for the last financial year was published on 25 July 2007,  Officials Report, column 1112W. Details for the financial year 2007-08 will be published before the summer recess and will include details of overseas visits undertaken by all Ministers. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code.
	Costs for overseas visits by all Ministers for the period 1997 to 1999 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Food

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  how much was spent by his Department on  (a) food and  (b) food of British origin in each of the last five years;
	(2)  from which five countries of origin the greatest amount of food was procured by his Department in the last year for which figures are available; and what the  (a) cost and  (b) quantity procured was in each case.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department does not hold the management information required to answer this question.

Reaching Communities Scheme

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much funding has been provided from the Reaching Communities Scheme in each constituency.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Big Lottery Fund has supplied the following data on the funding provided to each constituency by the Reaching Communities programme.
	Locational data are recorded by applicant post code and do not necessarily reflect the actual location of the project.
	
		
			  Reaching Communities EnglandGrants by constituency 
			  MP Constituency  Value ()  Number of awards 
			 Altrincham and Sale West 360,911 1 
			 Amber Valley 305,807 2 
			 Arundel and South Downs 36,808 1 
			 Ashfield 589,915 4 
			 Ashford 151,900 1 
			 Ashton under Lyne 932,468 4 
			 Barnsley Central 615,244 3 
			 Barnsley East and Mexborough 369,546 2 
			 Barnsley West and Penistone 362,857 4 
			 Barrow and Furness 417,733 2 
			 Basildon 844,785 4 
			 Basingstoke 497,621 1 
			 Bassetlaw 1,170,932 4 
			 Battersea 847,151 3 
			 Bedford 481,077 4 
			 Belfast North 959,751 2 
			 Belfast South 3089,828 7 
			 Belfast West 213,359 1 
			 Berwick-upon-Tweed 561,622 3 
			 Bethnal Green and Bow 2,093,667 8 
			 Billericay 283,591 1 
			 Birkenhead 813,307 3 
			 Birmingham, Edgbaston 693,804 3 
			 Birmingham, Erdington 376,109 1 
			 Birmingham, Hall Green 124,181 1 
			 Birmingham, Hodge Hill 47,000 1 
			 Birmingham, Ladywood 2,917,845 9 
			 Birmingham, Perry Barr 723,001 2 
			 Birmingham, Selly Oak 430,668 3 
			 Birmingham, Sparkbrook and Small Heath 819,060 4 
			 Birmingham, Yardley 115,550 1 
			 Bishop Auckland 318,604 2 
			 Blackburn 568,878 3 
			 Blackpool South 416,221 1 
			 Blyth Valley 151,037 3 
			 Bognor Regis and Littlehampton 94,962 1 
			 Bolsover 476,523 1 
			 Bolton North East 975,145 3 
			 Bolton South East 26,237 1 
			 Bootle 871,579 3 
			 Boston and Skegness 227,870 1 
			 Bosworth 421,647 4 
			 Bournemouth East 250,552 2 
			 Bournemouth West 52,270 1 
			 Bracknell 295,608 2 
			 Bradford North 1,066,904 4 
			 Bradford South 187,870 1 
			 Bradford West 1,106,253 5 
			 Braintree 30,000 1 
			 Brent East 949,329 4 
			 Brent North 251,372 1 
			 Brent South 880,425 4 
			 Brentford and Isleworth 318,878 2 
			 Bridgwater 619,581 3 
			 Brigg and Goole 948,096 3 
			 Brighton, Kemptown 474,125 3 
			 Brighton, Pavilion 1,874,701 7 
			 Bristol East 1,054,240 5 
			 Bristol North West 358,642 3 
			 Bristol West 1,308,400 5 
			 Bromley and Chislehurst 50,000 1 
			 Bromsgrove 180,000 7 
			 Broxbourne 387,723 2 
			 Broxtowe 107,676 1 
			 Buckingham 48,000 1 
			 Burnley 1,334,829 5 
			 Burton 819,994 3 
			 Bury St. Edmunds 203,016 2 
			 Camberwell and Peckham 424,533 3 
			 Cambridge 1,171,313 7 
			 Cannock Chase 360,532 3 
			 Canterbury 1,111,582 5 
			 Carlisle 666,720 3 
			 Carshalton and Wallington 147,796 1 
			 Central Suffolk and North Ipswich 516,348 2 
			 Charnwood 39,300 1 
			 Chatham and Aylesford 347,225 1 
			 Chesterfield 1,071,387 3 
			 Chichester 713,331 4 
			 Chorley 938,032 5 
			 Cities of London and Westminster 1,985,149 10 
			 City of Chester 33,779 1 
			 City of Durham 57,846 2 
			 City of York 785,584 3 
			 Colchester 690,297 5 
			 Colne Valley 439,513 2 
			 Copeland 849,411 3 
			 Corby 661,948 2 
			 Cotswold 252,712 2 
			 Coventry South 1,613,796 6 
			 Crawley 156,001 1 
			 Crewe and Nantwich 562,864 3 
			 Croydon Central 261,676 2 
			 Dagenham 387,194 2 
			 Darlington 158,215 1 
			 Dartford 445,572 2 
			 Daventry 71,761 2 
			 Denton and Reddish 405,460 1 
			 Derby North 218,994 1 
			 Derby South 1,489,805 5 
			 Devizes 326,130 4 
			 Dewsbury 625,203 2 
			 Don Valley 65,215 1 
			 Doncaster Central 1,110,457 6 
			 Doncaster North 615,340 2 
			 Dover 381,047 2 
			 Dudley North 423,223 3 
			 Dudley South 385,450 2 
			 Dulwich and West Norwood 365,534 2 
			 Ealing North 115,490 2 
			 Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush 383,135 1 
			 Ealing, Southall 335,892 3 
			 Easington 1,384,268 7 
			 East Devon 337,379 1 
			 East Ham 1,318,926 3 
			 East Hampshire 85,480 1 
			 East Londonderry 934,785 2 
			 East Worthing and Shoreham 51,040 1 
			 East Yorkshire 50,923 1 
			 Eastbourne 77,178 2 
			 Eastleigh 387,857 1 
			 Eccles 370,801 2 
			 Eddisbury 574,047 3 
			 Edmonton 741,215 2 
			 Elmet 239,660 2 
			 Eltham 185,569 2 
			 Enfield North 370,099 1 
			 Epsom and Ewell 163,645 2 
			 Esher and Walton 14,632 1 
			 Exeter 588,502 3 
			 Falmouth and Camborne 81,845 2 
			 Fareham 482,659 2 
			 Faversham and Mid Kent 812,882 3 
			 Feltham and Heston 263,859 1 
			 Finchley and Golders Green 680,341 2 
			 Folkestone and Hythe 86,951 1 
			 Forest of Dean 20,256 1 
			 Foyle 491,926 1 
			 Gainsborough 50,000 1 
			 Gateshead East and Washington West 130,130 1 
			 Gillingham 153,116 1 
			 Gloucester 70,000 1 
			 Gosport 183,856 2 
			 Grantham and Stamford 50,000 1 
			 Gravesham 731,284 2 
			 Great Grimsby 281,101 2 
			 Great Yarmouth 362,704 3 
			 Greenwich and Woolwich 1,599,282 9 
			 Guildford 799,345 3 
			 Hackney North and Stoke Newington 211,769 3 
			 Hackney South and Shoreditch 1,626,213 7 
			 Halton 1,483,579 5 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,973,230 5 
			 Hampstead and Highgate 307,449 1 
			 Harborough 270,000 1 
			 Harlow 706,950 4 
			 Hartlepool 809,974 4 
			 Harwich 222,370 2 
			 Hastings and Rye 362,000 1 
			 Havant 367,157 2 
			 Hayes and Harlington 280,480 2 
			 Hazel Grove 542,858 2 
			 Hemel Hempstead 37,730 1 
			 Hendon 218,795 1 
			 Hereford 153,168 1 
			 Hertford and Stortford 150,681 1 
			 Hexham 84,280 1 
			 Heywood and Middleton 25,000 1 
			 High Peak 377,513 2 
			 Holborn and St. Pancras 1,591,473 7 
			 Hornsey and Wood Green 585,087 2 
			 Houghton and Washington East 355,050 1 
			 Hove 834,446 3 
			 Huddersfield 925,009 3 
			 Hyndburn 1,903,493 6 
			 Ilford North 905,965 3 
			 Ilford South 894,576 4 
			 Ipswich 315,911 1 
			 Isle of Wight 806,679 3 
			 Islington North 1,589,821 8 
			 Islington South and Finsbury 5,873,322 19 
			 Keighley 211,992 2 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 186,313 2 
			 Kettering 758,231 2 
			 Kingston and Surbiton 781,276 3 
			 Kingston upon Hull East 547,924 2 
			 Kingston upon Hull North 1,192,674 3 
			 Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle 544,403 2 
			 Kingswood 467,671 2 
			 Knowsley North and Sefton East 177,055 1 
			 Knowsley South 1,192,170 3 
			 Lancaster and Wyre 285,777 1 
			 Leeds Central 1,231,182 9 
			 Leeds East 248,058 1 
			 Leeds North East 1,753,071 6 
			 Leeds North West 189,987 1 
			 Leeds West 354,693 2 
			 Leicester South 799,512 4 
			 Leicester West 1,121,052 3 
			 Leominster 664,190 3 
			 Lewes 850,661 3 
			 Lewisham East 74,376 1 
			 Lewisham West 287,866 2 
			 Lewisham, Deptford 978,851 6 
			 Leyton and Wanstead 743,383 2 
			 Lichfield 117,570 1 
			 Lincoln 1,212,420 5 
			 Liverpool, Riverside 3,848,168 14 
			 Liverpool, Walton 487,931 1 
			 Liverpool, Wavertree 83,596 1 
			 Loughborough 233,812 2 
			 Ludlow 363,418 2 
			 Luton South 484,115 1 
			 Maldon and East Chelmsford 125,460 1 
			 Manchester, Central 3,852,891 13 
			 Manchester, Gorton 529,800 2 
			 Manchester, Withington 138,115 1 
			 Mansfield 517,905 3 
			 Medway 259,975 2 
			 Meriden 600,938 3 
			 Middlesbrough 680,093 7 
			 Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland 570,271 2 
			 Mole Valley 404,874 1 
			 Morecambe and Lunesdale 35,000 1 
			 Morley and Rothwell 30,000 1 
			 New Forest West 480,435 2 
			 Newark 472,688 1 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne Central 1,611,887 7 
			 Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend 52,944 1 
			 Newcastle-under-Lyme 254,850 1 
			 Normanton 234,723 2 
			 North Cornwall 98,000 2 
			 North Devon 480,464 3 
			 North Dorset 204,143 1 
			 North Durham 688,881 4 
			 North East Bedfordshire 25,000 1 
			 North East Cambridgeshire 157,594 1 
			 North East Hampshire 41,925 1 
			 North East Hertfordshire 172,963 2 
			 North Norfolk 596,362 2 
			 North Shropshire 614,261 2 
			 North Southwark and Bermondsey 3,097,342 11 
			 North Thanet 210,935 1 
			 North Tyneside 580,128 3 
			 North Warwickshire 458,448 3 
			 North West Durham 293,991 1 
			 North West Hampshire 131,243 1 
			 North West Leicestershire 83,589 1 
			 North West Norfolk 482,019 1 
			 North Wiltshire 478,669 3 
			 Northampton South 184,467 1 
			 Norwich South 623,779 2 
			 Nottingham East 789,416 3 
			 Nottingham South 1,757,521 6 
			 Nuneaton 278,438 1 
			 Old Bexley and Sidcup 165,867 1 
			 Oldham West and Royton 1,244,004 4 
			 Oxford East 1,071,118 5 
			 Oxford West and Abingdon 743,160 2 
			 Pendle 816,820 4 
			 Penrith and The Border 169,867 2 
			 Peterborough 690,381 3 
			 Plymouth, Devonport 233,460 1 
			 Plymouth, Sutton 892,963 2 
			 Poole 412,191 2 
			 Poplar and Canning Town 628,768 3 
			 Portsmouth North 182,230 1 
			 Portsmouth South 527,276 3 
			 Preston 2,140,312 6 
			 Pudsey 37,607 1 
			 Reading East 301,502 2 
			 Redcar 811,633 3 
			 Redditch 462,259 1 
			 Regent's Park and Kensington North 553,944 4 
			 Richmond (Yorks) 549,747 4 
			 Richmond Park 362,375 3 
			 Rochdale 796,739 4 
			 Rochford and Southend East 688,727 5 
			 Romford 561,981 3 
			 Rossendale and Darwen 545,198 2 
			 Rotherham 766,873 4 
			 Ruislip-Northwood Rushcliffe 520,285 2 
			 Rutland and Melton 98,172 2 
			 Ryedale 390,265 1 
			 Salisbury 203,092 4 
			 Scarborough and Whitby 584,475 4 
			 Scunthorpe 197,002 1 
			 Selby 445,860 1 
			 Sheffield Central 979,448 6 
			 Sheffield, Attercliffe 936,388 2 
			 Sheffield, Brightside 588,599 4 
			 Sherwood 1,165,721 6 
			 Shipley 246,042 2 
			 Shrewsbury and Atcham 270,732 1 
			 Sittingbourne and Sheppey 74,000 1 
			 Skipton and Ripon 48,612 2 
			 Slough 1,062,159 4 
			 Solihull 376,365 2 
			 South Cambridgeshire 131,300 1 
			 South Dorset 50,100 1 
			 South East Cambridgeshire 395,259 1 
			 South Holland and The Deepings 282,896 1 
			 South Ribble 205,212 1 
			 South Shields 1,020,934 3 
			 South Swindon 609,202 3 
			 South West Bedfordshire 50,000 1 
			 South West Norfolk 97,626 2 
			 Southampton, Itchen 733,440 3 
			 Southampton, Test 516,538 3 
			 Southend West 486,097 1 
			 Southport 401,151 1 
			 St. Albans 340,087 1 
			 St. Helens South 1,000,366 4 
			 St. Ives 588,351 6 
			 Stafford 321,723 1 
			 Stevenage 162,345 1 
			 Stockport 706,070 2 
			 Stockton North 90,182 1 
			 Stockton South 963,388 5 
			 Stoke-on-Trent Central 1,485,144 5 
			 Stoke-on-Trent North 475,209 2 
			 Stoke-on-Trent South 375,589 1 
			 Stone 406,066 1 
			 Streatham 395,737 2 
			 Stretford and Urmston 364,881 2 
			 Stroud 162,398 2 
			 Suffolk Coastal 76,945 1 
			 Sunderland North 954,881 3 
			 Sunderland South 114,854 1 
			 Sutton and Cheam 382,055 1 
			 Sutton Coldfield 454,843 2 
			 Tamworth 676,316 1 
			 Taunton 325,000 1 
			 Teignbridge 155,560 1 
			 Telford 324,131 2 
			 Tewkesbury 298,683 2 
			 Thurrock 740,488 2 
			 Tiverton and Honiton 122,276 2 
			 Tonbridge and Mailing 249,686 2 
			 Tooting 597,493 2 
			 Torridge and West Devon 254,008 6 
			 Totnes 305,418 1 
			 Tottenham 1,011,138 5 
			 Truro and St. Austell 554,817 3 
			 Twickenham 98,078 1 
			 Tyne Bridge 1,035,319 5 
			 Tynemouth 429,805 1 
			 Upper Bann 469,115 1 
			 Uxbridge 36,196 3 
			 Vale of York 150,000 1 
			 Vauxhall 1,227,125 4 
			 Wakefield 970,187 3 
			 Wallasey 144,201 1 
			 Walsall North 61,000 1 
			 Walsall South 1,039,958 3 
			 Walthamstow 876,601 3 
			 Wansbeck 506,286 2 
			 Wantage 204,559 1 
			 Warley 376,614 1 
			 Warrington North 70,246 1 
			 Warrington South 499,186 1 
			 Warwick and Leamington 515,355 2 
			 Waveney 172,446 1 
			 Wealden 101,151 3 
			 Weaver Vale 652,221 2 
			 Wellingborough 100,489 2 
			 Wells 98,013 2 
			 Welwyn Hatfield 331,864 2 
			 Wentworth 255,190 2 
			 West Bromwich West 1,527,561 7 
			 West Chelmsford 386,257 4 
			 West Derbyshire 494,157 3 
			 West Dorset 99,293 1 
			 West Ham 1,268,507 5 
			 West Lancashire 1,060,180 3 
			 West Suffolk 65,736 1 
			 West Worcestershire 105,834 2 
			 Westbury 125,562 1 
			 Westmorland and Lonsdale 377,404 2 
			 Weston-Super-Mare 636,493 3 
			 Wigan 565,933 2 
			 Wimbledon 91,438 1 
			 Windsor 210,000 1 
			 Witney 213,804 1 
			 Wokingham 532,056 3 
			 Wolverhampton North East 320,843 1 
			 Wolverhampton South East 974,641 2 
			 Wolverhampton South West 537,965 2 
			 Woodspring 264,724 2 
			 Worcester 161,704 1 
			 Workington 495,681 2 
			 Worsley 494,425 1 
			 Worthing West 316,544 1 
			 Wyre Forest 421,345 2 
			 Yeovil 491,428 4 
			 Not known(1) 1,555,880 6 
			 (1) Six awards for constituencies were their location has not been recorded.  Source: Big Lottery Fund

Sport Action Zone Sub-Committee

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on how many occasions the Sport Action Zone Sub-Committee has met since its establishment; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the minutes of each of its last three meetings.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Sport Action Zone Sub-Committee is a matter for Sport England.

Sports: Finance

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many projects aimed at  (a) ethnic communities,  (b) disabled communities and  (c) women and girls have received funding from Sport England's Community Projects Revenue Fund since 1999.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Sport England has advised that from 2005-06 to 2007-08 the public service agreement for sport was to increase participation in sport by 3 per cent. by priority groups including ethnic minorities, disabled people and women.
	To support increases in participation by ethnic minorities Sport England has, in the last three years provided a total of 1,014,829 funding for Sporting Equals.
	To support increases in participation by disabled people, Sport England provided 4,111,399 to the English Federation of Disability Sport between 2005 and 2008, and have invested approximately 8,000,000 in the Inclusive Fitness Initiative (IFI) which is a gym based project to ensure disabled people can take part in gym based exercise.
	To support increases in participation by women and girls Sport England will provide 1.6 million funding for the Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation between 2005 and 2009.
	In order to receive funding from 2009-11, national governing bodies of sport will be required to develop plans for increasing participation by ethnic communities, disabled communities and, women and girls' participation in sport.

Swimming: London

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 1 July 2008,  Official Report, column 884W, on swimming: London, with which London boroughs his Department's proposals for free swimming were discussed before the policy was announced.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Prior to the announcement, my Department had individual discussions on the proposals for the free swimming offer with the London borough of Newham.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Departmental Buildings

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on which buildings occupied by his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies the lease will be due for renewal in the next four years.

Gareth Thomas: I have approached the chief executives of the Insolvency Service and Companies House and they will respond to the hon. Member directly.
	Information requested for non-departmental public bodies is not held centrally and to obtain such information would lead to disproportionate costs.
	 Letter from Gareth Jones, dated 7 July 2008:
	I am responding on behalf of Companies House to your recently tabled Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
	The lease of the building in which Companies House's Edinburgh office is based is due for renewal in March 2009.
	 Letter from Stephen Speed, dated 7 July 2008:
	The Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has asked me to reply to you directly on behalf of the Insolvency Services in respect of your question (2007/3199) on which buildings occupied by his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies the lease will be due for renewal in the next four years.
	Please see table below for the leases due for renewal in the next four years.
	
		
			  Location  Address  Lease expiry 
			 Blackpool Newfield House, Ground Floor, Vicarage Lane, Blackpool FY4 4WB December 2008 
			 Swansea Sun Alliance House, 2nd Floor, 166/167 St Helens Road, Swansea, SA1 5DL March 2009 
			 Bristol 100 Victoria Street, 4th floor, Bristol, BS1 1BD September 2009 
			 Birmingham RP Cobalt Square, 6th Floor, Hagley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B2 4QG September 2009 
			 Chester Windsor House, Pepper Street, Chester, CH1 1DF October 2010 
			 Stockton St. Marks House, St. Marks Court, Thornaby, Stockton-on-Tees, TS17 6QT April 2010 
			 Manchester Boulton House, 1st Floor, 17-21 Chorlton Street, Manchester,M1 3HY November 2011 
			 Manchester Boulton House, 7th Floor, 17-21 Chorlton Street, Manchester,M1 3HY November 2011 
			 Northampton Sol House, 1st Floor, 29 St. Katherine's Street, Northampton, NN1 2QZ December 2011 
			 Southend Central House, Part 4,n Floor, Clifftown Road, Southend, SS1 1AB February 2012 
			 Cambridge Abbeygate House, 2nd and Part 1st Floor, 164-167 East Road, Cambridge, CB1 1DB March 2012 
			 Nottingham The Frontage, 4th Floor, Block A, Queen Street, Nottingham, NG1 2BL December 2012

Energy: Prices

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the scale of regional price differentials in domestic gas and electricity prices; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Regional price differentials in domestic electricity and gas prices are published quarterly in tables 2.2.3 and 2.3.3 respectively of Quarterly Energy Prices, available online at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/energy/statistics/publications/prices/index.html
	A copy of this is also available from the Libraries of the House.

Export Credits Guarantee Department

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what data the Export Credits Guarantee Department collects on greenhouse gas emissions arising from high and medium impact projects which it supports.

Malcolm Wicks: ECGD's policy is to require an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for each project for which it receives an application for support and which its initial screening has identified as having high potential impacts. For any such project with significant greenhouse gas emissions, ECGD expects the EIA to contain details of the direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions from the project. This includes details of emissions relating to the generation of heat and power used by the project.
	Where ECGD's initial screening has judged the project to have medium potential impacts, applicants are required to complete an impact questionnaire, which asks for quantification of emissions of greenhouse gases.
	Where an application relates to export insurance or where the value of the goods or services to be exported is very low in comparison to the total project cost, this information may not be available to the applicant. In these circumstances, for projects that it expects to have significant greenhouse gas emissions, ECGD estimates the emission quantities based on other sources of data.

Flexible Working

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the  (a) number and  (b) proportion of employees taking flexible working in the 15 per cent. of local authorities with the highest unemployment;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the  (a) number and  (b) proportion of employees taking flexible working in each Government Office region;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the  (a) number and  (b) proportion of businesses offering flexible working in the 15 per cent. of local authorities with the highest unemployment;
	(4)  what estimate he has made of the  (a) number and  (b) proportion of businesses offering flexible working in each Government Office region.

Patrick McFadden: Data gathered to assess the impact of the right to request flexible working legislation show that nationally 91 per cent. of workplaces who received requests in the last year approved all requests(1) and that 94 per cent. of all requests from working parents are agreed(2).
	Furthermore evidence also shows that 92 per cent. of employers consider requests from any employee(3) and 56 per cent. of employees (14 million employees) work flexibly, or have done so within the last 12 months(4).
	The Department does not hold the specific information requested but the Third Work Life Balance Employers' Survey (2007) provides the following data at Government office regional level:
	
		
			  GO-region  Percentage of workplaces receiving requests to work flexibly 
			 North East 43 
			 North West 49 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 39 
			 East Midlands 49 
			 West Midlands 43 
			 South West 47 
			 Eastern 27 
			 London 41 
			 South East 39 
			 Wales 26 
			 Scotland 37 
		
	
	The Department does not hold information on the right to request flexible working at below regional level.
	Currently over 6 million employees have the right to request flexible working. This will increase to over 10 million employees once the right to request is extended to parents of children aged 16 and under.
	(1) Third Work Life Balance Employers' Survey2007
	(2) CBI Employment Trends Survey2007
	(3) Third Work Life Balance Employers' Survey2007
	(4) Third Work Life Balance Employees' Survey2006

Internet: Standards

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on how many occasions Ofcom has required a broadband provider to issue a Migration Authorisation Code and not secured compliance in the last 12 months.

Malcolm Wicks: The matter raised is the responsibility of the independent regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom), which is accountable to Parliament rather than Ministers.
	Accordingly, I have asked the chief executive of Ofcom to reply directly to the hon. Member. Copies of the chief executive's letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Manufacturing Industries: Furniture

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent discussions his Department has had with the European Commission on support for the UK furniture industry.

Malcolm Wicks: There have been no recent discussions between the Department and the European Commission on support for the UK furniture industry.

Manufacturing Industries: Furniture

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent discussions he has had with the EU Trade Commissioner on support for the UK furniture industry.

Malcolm Wicks: There have been no recent discussions between the Department and the EU Trade Commissioner on support for the UK furniture industry.

Manufacturing Industries: Furniture

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what support his Department has provided to the furniture industry which meets the criteria of the EU Structural Funds Priority Status in the last three years.

Malcolm Wicks: Under the rules that govern the structural funds there is no such concept as priority status so it is not a criteria that can be met. In addition, the Department does not provide support through the structural funds. The funds are delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions and Communities and Local Government in England and by the devolved administrations on their territories.

Microgeneration

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what his Department's assessment is of the effect of banding of the renewables obligation on the take-up of  (a) micro wind and  (b) solar photovoltaics from April 2009.

Malcolm Wicks: Element Energy produced a report on 2 June 2008, which was jointly commissioned by my Department and others. The report predicted growth in  (a) micro wind from 1,100 installations in 2007 to 7,400 in 2020 and  (b) solar photovoltaics from 2,300 installations to 6,100 in 2020, on a baseline of two ROCs per MWH. We will be consulting on what more can be done to encourage micro-generation as part of the Renewable Energy Strategy we will be publishing shortly.

National Grid

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment his Department has made of the robustness of the national grid in  (a) the UK and  (b) the London area.

Malcolm Wicks: Electrical Inspectors in my Department monitor the performance of electricity transmission and distribution companies by receiving and assessing reports of major power failures.
	(a) Historically the reliability of transmission networks is very high. In 2006-07 the overall reliability of supply of the GB system was 99.99985 per cent.
	(b) Consumers in London enjoy the most secure electricity supplies in the country. In 2006-07 the average customer minutes lost per 100 customers was 43.0 in the London distribution network, compared to the national average of 72.4.

Nuclear Power Stations: Foreign Companies

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the Government's policy is on foreign ownership of new nuclear power stations built in the UK.

Malcolm Wicks: A number of UK energy companies are already owned by non-UK companies. However, regardless of the nationality of the owners of energy companies operating in the UK, they are subject to the same licence conditions as UK owned energy companies. This will be the case with the owners, foreign or otherwise, of newly built nuclear power stations, along with the stringent safety and operating conditions that apply to all nuclear generation. Foreign owners of UK energy companies also pay the same rates of tax as UK companies and there is no evidence that overseas involvement in our energy sector has led to a situation that has given us security of supply concerns.

Post Offices: Closures

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many post offices closed in each parliamentary constituency in each year between 1997-98 and 2007-08.

Patrick McFadden: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, managing director of POL, to reply direct to the hon. Member.

Postal Services: EC Law

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the effect of EU Directives  (a) 96/67/EC and  (b) 2002/39/EC on the operation of the Post Office; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: European Postal Services Directives 97/67/EC and 2002.39.EC do not cover the provision of post offices or the provision of services through them. Decisions relating to such matters are the responsibility of individual member states. It remains the UK Government's priority to maintain a national Post Office network with national coverage.

Radioactive Materials: Transport

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many transport plans for the movement of nuclear materials have been approved by the Office for Civil Nuclear Security.

Malcolm Wicks: Since 23 September 2003, when the Nuclear Industries Security Regulations 2003 came into force, the Office for Civil Nuclear Security has approved 12 transport security plans for the transport of Category I/II nuclear material.

Renewable Energy

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what advice he has received from  (a) the National Audit Office,  (b) the Carbon Trust and  (c) Ofegm on the cost-effectiveness of the renewables obligation.

Malcolm Wicks: All three bodies have published documents on the cost effectiveness of the renewables obligation.
	The National Audit office published a report on the renewables obligation on 11 February 2005
	http://www.nao.org.uk/publications/nao_reports/04-05/0405210.pdf.
	The Carbon Trust published a report on 6 July 2006
	http://www.carbontrust.co.uk/publications/publicationdetail.htm?productid=CTC611
	Most recently Ofgem published a response to a Government consultation on the renewables obligation on 22 January 2007
	http://www.ofgem.gov.uk/Sustainability/Environmnt/Policy/Documents1/16669-ROrespJan.pdf.

Sellafield

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 3 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1014, on Sellafield, what factors he will take into account when assessing the recommendation of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority on who should be the new parent body organisation for the Sellafield Site Licence Company.

Malcolm Wicks: The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority is conducting the Sellafield parent body organisation competition under the EU competitive dialogue procedure, under which it is mandatory that they seek to identify the most economically advantageous tender using objective evaluation criteria agreed in advance with the bidders. Performances against those criteria are the only factors that can be taken into account. Any departure from the declared evaluation criteria would invalidate the competition process. Ministers have no part in the evaluation process.

Small Businesses: Rural Areas

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will place in the Library a copy of each report commissioned by his Department which has examined the impact of small shop closures on rural communities in the last 10 years.

Malcolm Wicks: No research has been commissioned by the Department on this subject in the last 10 years.

Tribunals: Employment

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps can be taken against those who do not abide by recommendations made by employment tribunals.

Patrick McFadden: Where an employment tribunal makes a recommendation to a respondent, and the respondent does not act upon it, the tribunal can increase the compensation award made to the claimant or order the respondent to pay compensation if it did not make such an order earlier.

Tribunals: Employment

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what consideration he has given to making the recommendations of employment tribunals binding.

Patrick McFadden: In employment tribunal cases where discrimination has been proven, in addition to making an order for compensation for loss or damage suffered by the claimant, the tribunal can make recommendations to the respondent aimed at improving the respondent's practices as they affect the claimant in the workplace. Such recommendations are not binding, though a tribunal can increase the claimant's compensation award if the respondent does not comply with them, or order the respondent to pay compensation if such an order had not been made before. We do not believe they should become binding. Compensation awards are, of course, binding and enforceable.
	The Government intend to broaden these recommendation powers to enable a tribunal to make recommendations, where discriminatory practice has been proved, which would benefit others as well as the claimant. This will enable recommendations about the respondent's practices to be made in situations where the claimant is no longer employed by the respondent (which is not currently possible), in order that current employees can benefit. My Department is currently consulting about the implementation of this.

Utilities: Billing

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent discussions he has had with BT and other utility companies on surcharges for customers who choose not to pay bills by direct debit.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 20 June 2008
	Departmental officials have regular meetings with BT at which a variety of issues are discussed, including consumer concerns which have been raised with us. In response to public concern, the Office of Communications (Ofcom) has examined regulatory concerns about communications' providers additional charges and draft guidance was published on 28 February 2008. Ofcom expects to produce guidance in the autumn and once finalised, it is proposing to give providers three months to comply. Ofcom will then start an enforcement programme.
	In respect of gas and electricity, suppliers offer discounts to customers who use payment methods that are cheaper for the supplier to administer, including online and direct debit.

Wind Power

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much renewables obligation subsidy went to  (a) onshore and  (b) offshore wind farms in 2006-07.

Malcolm Wicks: The renewables obligation is not a direct subsidy but is an incentive on suppliers to source renewable energy. For the obligation period 2006-07, Ofgem issued 4,208,975 ROCs for onshore wind and 720,824 for offshore wind. For the obligation period 2006-07 ROCs were worth up to 49.28.

Wind Power

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what estimate his Department has made of the number of onshore wind farm developments in  (a) 2007 and  (b) 2008 to date that would have been commercially viable without the renewables obligation subsidy.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department published an analysis by Ernst and Young (URN07/948) of the cost of renewable generation alongside the Energy White Paper on 23 May 2007. While the renewables obligation offers the financial incentive to stimulate production of renewable energy, the commercial viability of individual wind farms is a matter for wind farm operators.

Summertime

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will undertake research into the economic effects of the introduction of British Summer Time in winter and double British Summer Time in summer.

Patrick McFadden: There are no plans to change the current summer time arrangements or to undertake additional research as the Government are not convinced that a change would be in the best interests of the UK.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Carers Allowance: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people received carer's allowance in  (a) Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency and  (b) the London Borough of Bexley in the latest period for which figures are available.

Anne McGuire: The information requested is in the following table.
	
		
			  Carer's allowance cases in payment: November 2007 
			   Number 
			 London borough of Bexley 1,460 
			 Bexleyheath and Crayford parliamentary constituency 580 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Totals show the number of people in receipt of an allowance, and exclude people with entitlement where the payment has been suspended or where the person has underlying entitlement. 3. This information is published at: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/tabtool.asp  Source: DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study

Carers' Allowances

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average income of a household receiving carer's allowance was in the last period for which figures are available.

Anne McGuire: In the United Kingdom in 2006-07, the median equivalised household income of a household containing a member in receipt of carer's allowance was 308 per week before housing costs and 257 per week after housing costs.
	 Notes
	1. These statistics are based on Households Below Average Income data which are sourced from the Family Resources Survey.
	2. The Family Resources Survey is known to undercount receipt of certain benefits. In 2006-07, the number of benefit units recorded as being in receipt of carer's allowance on the Family Resources Survey was 20 per cent. lower than the figure from administrative records.
	3. The income measures used to derive the estimates shown employ the same methodology as the Department for Work and Pensions publication 'Households Below Average Income' series, which uses disposable household income, adjusted (or equivalised) for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living.
	4. Net incomes have been used to answer the question. This includes earnings from employment and self-employment, state support, income from occupational and private pensions, investment income and other sources. Income tax payments, national insurance contributions, council tax/domestic rates and some other payments are deducted from incomes.
	5. The figures are based on Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) equalisation factors.
	6. Weekly incomes have been rounded to the nearest whole pound.

Departmental Pay

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of staff in his Department received bonus payments in each of the last five years for which information is available; how much was paid in bonuses in 2007-08; what the largest single payment was in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: Performance bonus payments are awarded to employees on the basis of their individual performance. They are paid in the financial year following the completion of the performance year and forms part of their annual pay award. The expenditure incurred is in the following table.
	
		
			  Table 1: Amount paid in bonuses to DWP employees since 2003 and the number of employees receiving bonuses 
			  Financial year  Total employees receiving bonus  Proportion of total work force (Percentage)  Total paid ( million)  Largest payment () 
			 2003-04 106,123 75 25.29 7,000 
			 2004-05 129,855 95 38.61 10,250 
			 2005-06 123,285 95 42.82 10,400 
			 2006-07 116,096 95 40.68 20,000 
			 2007-08 111,943 95 36.61 26,200

Departmental Voluntary Work

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the Answer of 14 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1613W, on departmental voluntary work, for which organisations members of his Department have volunteered through the Community 5000 scheme in the last 12 months.

Anne McGuire: DWP staff have volunteered to support in excess of 300 Voluntary Organisations through the Community 5000 scheme in the last 12 months (ending June 2008). A full list of the organisations has been placed, for reference purposes, in the House of Commons Library.

Directgov

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what consultation his Department has undertaken with providers and suppliers involved in the development of Directgov.

Stephen Timms: The process of consultation with suppliers is a continuous process bound by the contractual arrangements currently in place for Directgov and new services as required. Since the transition to DWP in April 2008, consultations have included invitations to tender for various goods and services including procurement of a new managed service for Directgov's mobile and TC platform. In addition, as part of the development of Directgov, other Departments have been fully consulted and their requirements discussed with suppliers as necessary.

Directgov

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what opportunities there are for small businesses to tender for work on the continuing development of Directgov.

Stephen Timms: DWP recognises that by inviting small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to compete for contracts the Department encourages competition by helping to build up a sound supply base. This also accords with the aim of achieving best value for money as SMEs may be able to provide solutions while having fewer overheads to pass on.
	In advertising and selecting potential suppliers, care is taken to ensure that no undue emphasis is placed on company size. DWP also seeks where it can to increase the scope for using SMEs via framework agreements, and encouraging main contractors to engage SMEs as subcontractors.
	DWP competitive processes are governed by EU law and UK legislation. DWP is committed to public sector best practice and acts in accordance with OGC standards. Where contract opportunities are to be competed they are appropriately advertised to the market and fair competition is used to select the most suitable solution and value for money obtained for the taxpayer.

Directgov

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment his Department has made of the value for money obtained from expenditure from the public purse on Directgov.

Stephen Timms: The Department for Work and Pension took responsibility for Directgov in April 2008 and has put in place comprehensive leadership and management arrangements to deliver the expected business performance, this includes value for money. As part of Sir David Varney's review (December 2006), it was recommended that Directgov become the single digital channel for Government to provide information to the citizen from the whole of Government. The case is based on benefits to the public of joined up public services on line and savings to Departments through the reduction of websites across government and related economies of scale. This recommendation was accepted by all Departments and central funding provided by the Treasury for the SR07 period to enable the rationalisation and convergence of Government websites. The resultant programme for website rationalisation covers the CSR07 period and benefits will be monitored and assessed over this period.

Directgov

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on progress in the delivery of his Department's services via the Directgov portal.

Stephen Timms: DWP already delivers significant amounts of its online content on Directgov, including all of its content aimed at disabled people and carers, and much information aimed at those over the age of 50.
	All of the Department's transactional services can already be accessed via Directgov as well as through existing departmental sitesincluding the Jobs and Skills job search, a new benefits advisor service and a number of online claims.
	We are planning the convergence of all our citizen-facing content and services on to Directgov over the next two financial years and the closure of our citizen-facing sites, in line with the recommendations in the Varney report and the Service Transformation Delivery Agreement.
	We have so far closed eight sites and are redeveloping our dwp.gov.uk site this financial year in order to refocus it on our corporate audiences and move citizen-facing services to Directgov.
	High-level plans are in place to migrate the Pension Service website by September 2009 and the Jobcentre Plus website by March 2010, on to various parts of Directgov.

Directgov

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what risk assessment his Department has made in respect of the transfer of delivery of online public services via the Directgov portal; and whether he has commissioned any independent reviews.

Stephen Timms: The Department for Work and Pensions took responsibility for Directgov in April 2008. Since then Directgov has become an integral part of the Department's risk and audit process and as such is subject to the same risk and audit procedures as the rest of the Department. In practice this means that Directgov will be assessed throughout each year of the SR07 period as deemed necessary for the risks it faces. DWP also provisioned for independent reviews as part of the arrangements in place for Directgov and intends to carry out independent reviews of Directgov over the period of the SR07. This is in line with the Public Accounts Committee recommendations in Report 16 Government on the Internet: Progress in delivering information and services on 29 April 2008.

Government Communications

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies (i) are classified as Government communicators and (ii) have access to the Government Communication Network.

Anne McGuire: In the Department for Work and Pensions we currently employ 365 staff who are classified as Government Communicators. Included in this figure is 104 staff who are employed by our agencies.
	
		
			  Organisation  Number of GCN staff 
			 DWP Communications 261 
			 Group Finance 3 
			 Jobcentre Plus 44 
			 Child Support Agency 16 
			 Pension, Disability and Carers Service 20 
			 Shared Services 1 
			 Direct Gov 20 
			 Total 365 
		
	
	The Government Communications Network is open to all civil servants who mainly work in a communication role. These individuals have exclusive access to networks, events and community tools (including forums and document sharing) on the GCN website.
	Other civil servants can register on the website to access communication guidance and internal vacancies.

Incapacity Benefit

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of incapacity benefit claimants had dependants under the age of 16 years in each year since 1997, broken down by sex of claimant; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number and proportions of incapacity benefit claimants with one or more children: by gender 
			   Incapacity benefit claimants with dependent children aged 0-15  Estimated proportion of incapacity benefit claimants with children aged 0-15 (%) 
			   Male  Female  Male  Female 
			 2005 123,595 185,125 8.3 18.5 
			 2006 96,515 183,330 6.6 18.4 
			 2007 91,050 182,155 6.4 18.4 
			  Notes: 1. Figures may not sum due to rounding. 2. Gender breakdown of incapacity benefit claimants with children is not available prior to 2005. 3. Information on child dependents is not reliably completed on the benefit computer system. Therefore the number of incapacity benefit claimants with children has been estimated by merging child benefit records onto benefit claims as at April each year with permission from HMRC. 4. Total number of incapacity benefit claimants is taken from the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study at May each year. 5. Proportions are indicative only as the components are based on different sources taken at different months  Source:  DWP Information Directorate.

Incapacity Benefit: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of the working age population in Peterborough was in receipt of incapacity benefit in each year since 2001, broken down by electoral ward; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 7 July 2008
	 The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Working age incapacity benefit or severe disablement allowance claimants as a proportion of the working age population in Peterborough city council area, by ward; as at November each year 
			  Percentage 
			   2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 Barnack 2.3 2.6 2.9 2.5 2.3% 2.4 2.3 
			 Bretton North 7.4 7.6 7.6 7.8 7.6 7.6 8.1 
			 Bretton South 4.7 5.2 5.9 5.6 5.8 6.3 5.9 
			 Central 11.0 10.1 9.6 9.1 8.4 8.1 9.5 
			 Dogsthorpe 11.1 11.2 10.9 11.3 11.5 11.0 10.8 
			 East 9.6 10.1 9.3 9.8 9.1 8.9 9.4 
			 Eye and Thorney 4.7 5.2 5.1 5.2 5.7 5.6 6.0 
			 Fletton 6.5 6.1 6.3 6.3 6.5% 6.6 6.8 
			 Glinton and Wittering 2.4 2.3 2.1 2.3 2.4 2.2 2.4 
			 Newborough 4.6 4.6 4.9 4.4 3.9 4.2 3.5 
			 North 9.8 10.7 10.7 10.8 10.5 11.3 11.3 
			 Northborough 2.5 2.9 2.8 2.8 2.0 l 2.4 2.3 
			 Orton Longueville 6.8 7.5 7.1 7.4 7.7 7.8 8.5 
			 Orton Waterville 4.6 4.6 4.4 4.6 4.5 4.8 4.7 
			 Orton with Hampton 4.4 3.5 3.5 3.6 3.3 3.5 4.0 
			 Park 5.2 5.1 4.9 4.8 4.9 4.8 5.1 
			 Paston 8.3 8.1 8.6 8.8 8.8 9.3 9.1 
			 Ravensthorpe 9.3 9.5 9.7 9.2 8.8 L 8.9 9.5 
			 Stanground Central 6.4 6.8 6.9 7.4 7.6 7.5 7.8 
			 Stanground East 6.6 6.4 7.0 7.2 6.9 6.7 7.Q 
			 Walton 6.2 6.4 6.5 6.7 6.8 6.8 6.7 
			 Werrington North 4.9 4.7 5.1 5.2 5.0 5.1 5.1 
			 Werrington South 4.0 3.8 3.9 4.3 4.1 4.2 4.1 
			 West 4.4 4.5 4.3 4.5 5.0 4.8 4.6 
			  Notes: 1. Proportions are rounded to one decimal place. 2. Population figures are ONS experimental ward mid-year population estimates. The methodology used to produce these ward estimates is subject to further review, hence the estimates have been published as experimental statistics and are under evaluation. Percentages derived from them should be treated as indicative only. 3. Working age population figures are defined as males aged 15-64 and females aged 15-59. Working age benefit claimant figures are defined as males aged 16-64 and females aged 16-59. 4. Census Area Statistics (CAS) wards are used for 2001 Census outputs, they are based on administrative ward boundaries legally in force at the end of 2002, which includes ward boundaries that became operative in a number of local authorities in May 2003, and some others that become operative in May 2004. CAS wards are identical to the 2003 Statistical wards except that 18 of the smallest wards (all in England) have been merged into other wards to avoid the confidentiality risks of releasing data for very small areas. This has occurred to those wards with fewer than 100 residents or 40 households (as at the 2001 Census). Unlike statistical wards, CAS wards are not subject to boundary change over time. There are 7,969 CAS wards in England and 881 in Wales, a total of 8,850.  Sources: 1. DWP IFD 100 per cent. WPLS. 2. ONS mid-year population estimates.

Jobcentre Plus: Manpower

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many full-time jobcentre staffing positions have been  (a) lost and  (b) created in each parliamentary constituency since 1997;
	(2)  how many jobcentre premises have been closed in each constituency since 1997.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is not available.

Lone Parents: Income Support

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much the Department intends to spend before  (a) October 2008,  (b) October 2009 and  (c) October 2010 on advertising and communicating to lone parents the changes to eligibility criteria for income support taking place on these dates; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: We are developing a communications strategy to support these changes, should they be agreed by Parliament. The associated costs will then be determined. In the interim we have provisionally set aside 330,000 in each of the three years to communicate the changes to all relevant audiences, including staff, customers and stakeholders.

Lone Parents: Income Support

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department has spent on advertising and communicating to lone parents the changes to eligibility criteria for income support taking place in October 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Timms: We have integrated messages about the proposed changes into current engagement with lone parents, such as local Options and Choices events, at no extra cost. We have spent a minimal amount, around 700, developing a factsheet to explain the proposed changes for distribution at the appropriate time.

New Deal Schemes

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many times jobseeker's allowance claimants requested, but were declined, fast track access to a New Deal Programme in each year since 1997 for which information is available.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is not available.

Pension Credit

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people made a claim for backdating of pension credit of  (a) nine to 12 months,  (b) six to nine months,  (c) three to six months,  (d) one to three months and  (e) less than one month in each year since October 2003; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 15 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1700W to the hon. Member for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey (Danny Alexander).

Post Office Card Account: Sedgefield

Phil Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people used the Post Office card account for the payment of benefits and pensions in Sedgefield constituency in 2007-08.

James Plaskitt: The information is not available in the precise format requested.
	Latest available information showing the number of DWP benefits and pension payments accounts paid into a Post Office card account in Sedgefield constituency has been placed in the Library.

Poverty

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of  (a) 18 to 24-year-olds and  (b) 24 to 30-year-olds lived in households with below 60 per cent. of median income (i) before and (ii) after deducting household costs in each year since 1997.

Stephen Timms: This information is in the following tables.
	
		
			  Number and proportion of 18 to 24-year- olds in households below 6 0 per cent. of median income 
			Before housing costs  After housing costs 
			  Coverage   Number below 6 0 per cent. of median income (Million)  Percentage below 6 0 per cent. of median incom e  Number below 6 0 per cent. of median income (Million)  Percentage below 6 0 per cent. of median incom e 
			 GB 1997-98 0.8 17 1.2 25 
			  1998-99 0.7 16 1.2 25 
			  1999-2000 0.8 18 1.2 26 
			  2000-01 0.8 17 1.0 23 
			  2001-02 0.8 17 1.1 24 
			   
			 UK 2002-03 0.8 17 1.3 25 
			  2003-04 0.8 16 1.3 25 
			  2004-05 0.8 16 1.3 24 
			  2005-06 1.0 19 1.5 28 
			  2006-07 1.0 17 1.6 27 
		
	
	
		
			  Number and  proportion of 24 to 30 -year- olds in households below 6 0 per cent. of median income 
			Before housing costs  After housing costs 
			  Coverage   Number below 6 0 per cent. of median income (Million)  Percentage below 6 0 per cent. of median incom e  Number below 6 0 per cent. of median income (Million)  Percentage below 6 0 per cent. of median incom e 
			 GB 1997-98 0.8 15 1.2 20 
			  1998-99 0.7 13 1.1 19 
			  1999-2000 0.8 14 1.1 20 
			  2000-01 0.8 14 1.1 20 
			  2001-02 0.7 13 1.0 18 
			   
			 UK 2002-03 0.7 14 1.0 20 
			  2003-04 0.7 14 1.0 20 
			  2004-05 0.7 13 1.0 19 
			  2005-06 0.7 13 1.0 19 
			  2006-07 0.7 14 1.1 21 
			  Notes: 1. These statistics are based on Households Below Average Income data. 2. Small changes should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 3. The reference period for Households Below Average Income figures is single financial years. 4. The income measures used to derive the estimates shown employ the same methodology as the Department for Work and Pensions publication Households Below Average Income series, which uses disposable household income, adjusted (or 'equivalised') for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. 5. The figures are based on OECD equalisation factors. 6. Figures have been presented on both a before housing cost and after housing cost basis. For before housing cost, housing costs (such as rent, water rates, mortgage interest payments, structural insurance payments and ground rent and service charges) are not deducted from income, while for after housing cost they are. This means that after housing cost incomes will generally be lower than before housing cost. 7. Numbers of individuals in each age range have been rounded to the nearest 100,000 individuals, while proportions of individuals in each age range have been rounded to the nearest percentage point. 8. Individuals aged 24 are included in both the 18 to 24-year-old age range and the 24 to 30-year-old age range.  Source: Households Below Average Income, DWP.

Poverty

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate has been made of the proportion of  (a) disabled and  (b) non-disabled people living in poverty in (i) Kettering, (ii) Northamptonshire and (iii) England.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 2 June 2008
	 The information requested is not available below the level of Government office region. Our poverty statistics, published in the Households Below Average Income series, allow a breakdown of poverty by Government office region.
	In England in 2006-07, on a Before Housing Cost basis, 24 per cent. of disabled people were in households with incomes below 60 per cent. of median income, compared to 17 per cent. of non-disabled people. On an After Housing Cost basis, 26 per cent. of disabled people were in households with incomes below 60 per cent. of median income, compared to 22 per cent. of non-disabled people.
	 Notes:
	1. These statistics are based on Households Below Average Income data, which is sourced from the Family Resources Survey.
	2. The reference period for Household Below Average Income figures is single financial years.
	3. The income measures used to derive the estimates shown employ the same methodology as the Department for Work and Pensions publication Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series, which uses disposable household income, adjusted (or 'equivalised') for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living.
	4. The Government's preferred measure of relative low income poverty is defined as being in a household with a household income of less than 60 per cent. of contemporary median income.
	5. For this analysis, disability is defined as having any long-standing illness, disability or infirmity that leads to a significant difficulty with one or more areas of the individual's life. This is consistent with the definition of disability used in the HBAI publication. Everyone classified as disabled under this definition would also be classified as disabled under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).
	6. The figures are based on OECD equivalisation factors.
	7 Figures have been presented on both a Before Housing Cost and After Housing Cost basis. For Before Housing Cost, housing costs (such as rent, water rates, mortgage interest payments, structural insurance payments and ground rent and service charges) are not deducted from income, while for After Housing Cost they are. This means that After Housing Cost incomes will generally be lower than Before Housing Cost.
	8. Proportions of people in low-income households have been rounded to the nearest percentage point.

Poverty: Young People

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of 18 to 24-year-olds lived in households below 40 per cent. of median income  (a) before and  (b) after deducting household costs in each year since 1997.

Stephen Timms: The most common and internationally recognised threshold to measure poverty is income below 60 per cent. of median. Specific information regarding low income for the UK is available in Households Below Average Income 1994/95 to 2006/07. This annual National Statistics publication includes the number and proportion of individuals, children, working age adults and pensioners with incomes below 50 per cent., 60 per cent. and 70 per cent. of median income, and the proportion in persistent poverty. Information covering 40 per cent. of median income is not a sound measure of poverty and is not included in the Households Below Average Income series. This is because households stating the lowest incomes to the Family Resources Survey may not actually have the lowest living standards. Many people who report very low incomes appear to have high spending. Hence, any statistics on numbers in this group may be misleading.
	The information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number and proportion of 18 to 24-year-olds in households below 40 per cent. of median income 
			Before housing costs  After housing costs 
			  Coverage   Number below 40 per cent. of median income (Million)  Proportion below 40 per cent. of median income (Percentage)  Number below 40 per cent. of median income (Million)  Proportion below 40 per cent. of median income (Percentage) 
			 GB 1997-98 0.2 5 0.6 12 
			  1998-99 0.2 5 0.5 11 
			  1999-2000 0.3 6 0.6 13 
			  2000-01 0.3 6 0.5 11 
			  2001-02 0.2 5 0.6 12 
			   
			 UK 2002-03 0.3 6 0.6 13 
			  2003-04 0.3 6 0.6 12 
			  2004-05 0.3 6 0.6 12 
			  2005-06 0.4 7 0.8 14 
			  2006-07 0.3 6 0.7 13 
			  Notes: 1. These statistics are based on Households Below Average Income data. 2. Small changes should be treated with caution as these will be affected by sampling error and variability in non-response. 3. The reference period for Households Below Average Income figures is single financial years. 4. The Government's preferred measure of relative low-income poverty is defined as being in a household with a household income of less than 60 per cent. of contemporary median income. The figures used in this response, based on a threshold of 40 per cent. of contemporary median income are not National Statistics and caution must be applied because those people stating the lowest incomes in the Family Resources Survey may not actually have the lowest living standards. 5. The methodology of the Households Below Average Income series uses disposable household income, adjusted (or 'equivalised') for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living. 6. The figures are based on OECD equalisation factors. 7. Figures have been presented on both a before housing cost and after housing cost basis. For before housing cost, housing costs (such as rent, water rates, mortgage interest payments, structural insurance payments and ground rent and service charges) are not deducted from income, while for after housing cost they are. This means that after housing cost incomes will generally be lower than before housing cost. 8. Numbers of 18 to 24-year-olds have been rounded to the nearest 100,000 individuals, while proportions of 18 to 24-year-olds have been rounded to the nearest percentage point.  Source: Households Below Average Income, DWP.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in England and Wales have been prosecuted for benefit fraud on  (a) more than one occasion and  (b) more than two occasions in each of the last five years.

James Plaskitt: The available information on the number of successful convictions is for England, Wales and Scotland, and is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of people convicted for benefit fraud on more than one or two occasions in England, Wales and Scotland 
			   Number of people convicted for benefit fraud on more than one occasion  Number of people convicted for benefit fraud on more than two occasions 
			 2003-04 48 0 
			 2004-05 109 2 
			 2005-06 114 3 
			 2006-07 104 0 
			  Note:  Data are incomplete for 2007-08 due to the roll out of FRAIMS (Fraud Referral and Intervention Management System), the new national case management system for fraud work. Action is currently ongoing to resolve extraction of management information from FRAIMS on this specific issue.

State Retirement Pensions

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the annual cost of increasing the basic state pension to 124.05, net of income related benefits and additional tax revenue  (a) with and  (b) without the winter fuel payment; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) The estimated net annual additional cost of increasing the full rate of basic state pension to 124.05 per week, net of both reductions in income related benefits and additional tax revenue, is around 13 billion in 2008-09.
	 (b) The estimated net annual additional cost of increasing the full rate of basic state pension to 124.05 per week, net of both reductions in income related benefits and additional tax revenue and taking into account expenditure saved from ceasing the Winter Fuel Payment, is around 10 billion in 2008-09.
	 Notes:
	1. The estimate is in 2008-09 prices and has been rounded to the nearest  billion.
	2. The estimate refers to the UK and overseas.
	3. Reductions in income related benefit expenditure and additional tax revenue have been estimated using the Department's policy simulation model.
	4. Estimated expenditure on winter fuel payments for 2008-09 takes into account additional payments announced in the Budget 2008.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what research his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on alcohol dependency problems in different generations of one family; and what assessment he has made of means of reducing the likelihood of children of alcohol abusers themselves becoming alcohol abusers.

Beverley Hughes: A cross-Government group commissioned a systematic review of the impact of parental substance misuse which included alcohol from National Collaborating Centre for Drug Prevention (2006). From this evidence we know that parental alcohol misuse can seriously affect parenting capacity and has negative impacts on children's life chances. Not only does it increases health risks to the unborn child during pregnancy it raises risk of poor educational attainment, offending behaviour, substance misuse and emotional problems in later life.
	This is why my Department is investing in targeted interventions for families at risk, which will reduce, over the long term, the number of young people at increased risk ofamong othersmisusing alcohol. These initiatives include intensive support services to reach the most chaotic families through the Family Interventions Project; and Family Pathfinders to develop local systems and services that improve outcomes for families at risk.
	These family based interventions will be evaluated to assess if they are improving outcomes and reducing the risks with those affected by alcohol-misusing parents.

Departmental Official Hospitality

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 28 November 2007,  Official Report, column 460W, on departmental official hospitality, when he expects the list of hospitality received in 2007 by members of his Department's management board to be published.

Kevin Brennan: I refer the hon. Member to the answer the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster gave him on 7 May 2008,  Official Report, column 885W.

Departmental Pay

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by special advisers in his Department in each of the last 10 years.

Kevin Brennan: There is no centrally held record of the amount claimed in reimbursable expenses by special advisers in this Department over the last 10 years. To collate this information would therefore incur disproportionate cost.

Departmental Responsibilities

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many reviews of regulation his Department and its agencies have conducted or commenced since July 2007; and in which areas.

Kevin Brennan: There have been no reviews of regulations in this Department since July 2007. The arrangements for post legislative reviews of Acts of Parliament were set out in the White Paper Post-legislative Scrutiny, published in March 2008. We are presently considering all legislation enacted since 2005 which is within scope of the White Paper with a view to initiating discussions about the nature and timing of any reviews with the Children, Schools and Families Select Committee.
	Information about regulations more generally including impact assessments, review timetables and reviews is not presently held centrally. However, we are in the process of centralising our records in the light of the increased focus on post implementation reviews following the introduction of the revised impact assessment process in November 2007. This will ensure that reviews are carried out systematically in future.

Morning Star

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2008,  Official Report, column 780W, on the  Morning Star, whether his Department's  (a) press office,  (b) ministerial offices and  (c) library subscribe to the  Morning Star.

Kevin Brennan: The Department's press office, ministerial offices and library do not subscribe to the  Morning Star.

Play: Finance

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what funding allocations his Department will make for children's play to each London local authority in ( a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10.

Beverley Hughes: Play and green spaces are an important demand on Government resources and substantial investment has been made in recent years. In the Children's Plan we committed to invest an additional 235 million to fund up to 3,500 public play areas nationally. The 235 million investment will build on existing funding, and provide a real opportunity to transform play areas throughout the country.
	Historically, general funding of play has been dependent on local priorities via local area funding. We hope that this additional funding will emphasise our commitment to improving play provision for children and young people and encourage local areas to invest more in play opportunities.
	There are currently five play pathfinder local authorities and seven playbuilder local authorities in London. The following tables show the minimum allocations for 2008-09 and indicative allocations for subsequent years for the London pathfinder and playbuilder authorities. Allocations will be finalised in autumn 2008 once we know the additional pathfinder and playbuilder authorities.
	On average all pathfinder authorities will receive around 2 million capital funding and 500,000 revenue funding while playbuilder authorities will receive around 1 million capital and 46,000 revenue funding. Pathfinder authorities will deliver up to 28 play areas and a new adventure play area while playbuilder authorities will deliver around 20-25 play areas by 2011.
	
		
			  Pathfinders 
			   
			   Capital funding  Revenue funding  Total 
			  Local authority  2008-09  2009-10  2008-09  2009-10  2010-11  
			 Camden 604,177 1,577,908 141,117 181,436 181,436 2,686,074 
			 Enfield 594,107 1,551,610 138,510 178,084 178,084 2,640,395 
			 Hackney 612,791 1,600,405 142,918 183,751 183,751 2,723,616 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 596,171 1,556,999 139,443 179,284 179,284 2,651,181 
			 Tower Hamlets 621,944 1,624,311 144,831 186,212 186,212 2,763,510 
		
	
	
		
			  Playbuilders 
			   
			   Capital funding  Revenue funding  Total 
			   2008-09  2009-10  2010-11  2008-09  2009-10  2010-11  
			 Brent 303,415 417,195 417,195 12,695 16,322 16,322 1,183,144 
			 Croydon 301,457 414,503 414,503 12,604 16,206 16,206 1,175,479 
			 Islington 312,832 430,143 430,143 12,950 16,650 16,650 1,219,368 
			 Lambeth 313,149 430,579 430,579 12,958 16,661 16,661 1,220,587 
			 Lewisham 307,785 423,204 423,204 12,818 16,481 16,481 1,199,973 
			 Redbridge 296,436 407,600 407,600 12,474 16,038 16,038 1,156,186 
			 Wandsworth 302,671 416,173 416,173 12,685 16,310 16,310 1,180,322

Playing Fields: Hampshire

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 12 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 453-4W, on playing fields: Hampshire, what the status was of the playing fields at Thornden School, Chandler's Ford in  (a) 1999 and  (b) 2002.

Kevin Brennan: In January 2002 Hampshire county council were given consent to dispose of an area of land at Thornden School. The area to be sold consisted of land that could be described as habitat, informal or social land and was situated on the boundary of the school some distance from the school buildings. Because of its configuration the land had not been used, nor was it suitable to be used, for the playing of team games. The proceeds of sale were to be used towards the cost of a new school hall which would include purpose-designed facilities to assist both drama and the music curriculum.
	The figures provided in June related only to those applications that involve the sale of an area of land capable of being used as a sports pitch, which is what is generally regarded as playing fields.

Pupil Exclusions

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of pupils received fixed period exclusions in schools with pupils with  (a) more and  (b) fewer than 1,500 pupils in the latest period for which figures are available.

Kevin Brennan: The available information showing numbers of fixed period exclusions is shown in the table. It should be noted that some pupils will have more than one episode of fixed period exclusion.
	
		
			  Primary, state funded secondary and all special schools( 1, 2) : Number of fixed period exclusions by size of school 2006/07 
			   Schools with up to 1,500 pupils  Schools with 1,500 pupils or greater  All schools 
			   Number of fixed period exclusions  As a percentage of the population  Number of fixed period exclusions  As a percentage of the population  Number of fixed period exclusions  As a percentage of the population 
			 Primary schools 45,730 1.11 (3) (3) 45,730 1.11 
			 State funded secondary schools(2) 318,120 11.25 45,150 9.15 363,270 10.94 
			 All special schools 16,600 18.56 (3) (3) 16,600 18.56 
			 (1) Includes middle schools as deemed. (2) Includes local authority maintained secondary schools, city technology colleges and academies. (3) Not applicable.  Notes: 1. The number of fixed period exclusions expressed as a percentage of the number (headcount) of all pupils (excluding dually registered pupils) in January 2007. 2. Based on head count of pupils as at January 2007, excludes dual registrations. 3. Totals may not appear to equal the sum of component parts because numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: School Census

Pupil Exclusions

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of  (a) primary and  (b) secondary school pupils in areas of each decile of multiple deprivation received fixed period exclusions in the last 12 months;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals were given  (a) a permanent exclusion and  (b) a fixed period exclusion in each of the last 10 years;
	(3)  how many and what proportion of  (a) primary and  (b) secondary school pupils from schools in each decile of proportion of pupils entitled to free school meals received a fixed period exclusion in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(4)  how many and what proportion of  (a) primary and  (b) secondary school pupils in areas of each decile of multiple deprivation received a permanent exclusion in the last 12 months;
	(5)  how many and what proportion of  (a) primary and  (b) secondary school pupils in schools of each decile of proportion of pupils entitled to free school meals were given a permanent exclusion in the last 12 months.

Kevin Brennan: Information on fixed and permanent exclusions by income deprivation affecting children index (IDACI) of excluding school will be published as additional tables to the SFR, permanent and fixed period exclusions from schools in England 2006/07 on 24 July 2008. This will be available at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgatewav/DB/SFR/s000793/index.shtml.
	This release of additional data will also include information on fixed and permanent exclusions by free school eligibility for the school years 2005/06 and 2006/07. Data for the schools years 2000/01 to 2004/05 can only be provided at disproportionate cost. Data for years prior to 2000/01 are not available.
	Information on permanent and fixed period exclusions by the decile of proportion of pupils entitled to free schools meals can only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Sure Start Programme

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which local authorities receive Sure Start funding; and which have children's centres not based in wards among the 20 per cent. most deprived of all wards.

Beverley Hughes: All 150 local authorities have received funding to establish Sure Start children's centres. In phase 1 (2004 to 2006) of the roll out, centres were developed to offer services to families living in the 20 per cent. most disadvantaged wards, based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation 2000. In phase 2 (2006 to 2008) further centres were developed in all local authorities across England to cover communities where the majority of families live in the 30 per cent. most disadvantaged areas, as defined by Super Output Areas, as well as some areas outside the 30 per cent. most disadvantaged areas. There are currently 2,907 designated children's centres. By 2010 there will be 3,500 centres, one for every community.

Young People: Unemployment

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many people aged 16 to 24 years old not in education, employment or training (NEETs) there were in each year since 1992; how many of them in each year had been NEETs for  (a) under (i) three months, (ii) six months, (iii) nine months, (iv) 12 months and (v) 24 months and  (b) over 24 months; and how many in each case were not claiming state benefits.

Beverley Hughes: Information on the length of time young people have been NEET is not available. However, snapshot estimates are available from the Labour Force Survey. The following table gives for England the number and proportion of 16 to 24-year-olds classed as not in employment, education or training for the years available. The figures are split into those who are inactive and those who are unemployed and therefore likely to be claiming unemployment related benefits.
	
		
			  16 to 24( -) year-olds( 1)  not in education employment or training (NEET) by labour market status 
			   Numbers  Rate (percentage) 
			  Year( 2)  Inactive  Unemployed  Total  Inactive  Unemployed  Total 
			 Spring 1993 520,000 602,000 1,121,000 10.3 8.9 19.2 
			 Spring 1994 490,000 526,000 1,016,000 9.4 8.8 18.1 
			 Spring 1995 468,000 440,000 908,000 8.1 8.6 16.7 
			 Spring 1996 439,000 415,000 854,000 7.8 8.3 16.1 
			 Spring 1997 420,000 339,000 758,000 6.5 8.1 14.6 
			 Autumn 1997 357,000 313,000 669,000 6.1 7.0 13.1 
			 Autumn 1998 358,000 318,000 677,000 6.3 7.1 13.4 
			 Autumn 1999 346,000 284,000 630,000 5.6 6.9 12.5 
			 Autumn 2000 373,000 268,000 640,000 5.3 7.4 12.6 
			 Q4 2001 373,000 284,000 657,000 7.1 5.4 12.6 
			 Q4 2002 384,000 266,000 651,000 7.2 5.0 12.2 
			 Q4 2003 403,000 250,000 653,000 7.5 4.6 12.1 
			 Q4 2004 423,000 299,000 722,000 7.7 5.5 13.2 
			 Q4 2005 464,000 338,000 802,000 8.4 6.1 14.6 
			 Q4 2006 441,000 327,000 768,000 7.9 5.9 13.8 
			 Q4 2007 426,000 316,000 742,000 5.6 7.5 13.1 
			 (1 )Academic age has been used here. This means for each quarter's data those aged 16 to 24 as at the preceding 31 August are counted. (2 )The questions used to derive the NEET measure are not asked in all quarters of the LFS. Therefore it is not possible to show NEET rates for the same quarter in all years. NEET measures are seasonal and therefore care is needed in the interpretation of changes between different quarters. Prior to 2001 spring (March to May) and/or autumn (September to November) seasonal quarters are shown. From 2001 calendar quarter 4 (October to November) is shown.  Source:  Labour Force Survey (LFS)

Written Questions: Government Responses

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he plans to answer Questions  (a) 203546 and  (b) 203547 on adoption, tabled by the hon. Member for Southend West on 29 April 2008; what the reason is for the time taken to answer in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: I have been asked to reply.
	Information about the numbers of children who have adoption as part of their plan is not collected centrally.
	Data on the age at adoption of children looked after who were adopted during the years ending 31 March, 2003-2007, are shown below in Table 1. Data on the numbers of children looked after adopted during the years ending 31 March, 2003-2007, by local authority area has been placed in the House of Commons Library (Table LAE1).
	The information is taken from Tables E1 and LAE1 of the Statistical First Release (SFR 27/2007) entitled Children Looked After in England (including adoption and care leavers) year ending 31 March 2007. The SFR is located at
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000741/index.shtml.
	Table 1 can be found within the additional information Excel tables supplementing SFR27/2007 on the website. Table LAE1 can be found within the second set of 32 additional tables.
	
		
			  Table 1 Looked after children adopted during the years ending 31 March by age at adoption 2003 to 2007( 1) 
			   Number  Percentage 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 All children looked after adopted1 3,500 3,800 3,800 3,700 3,300 100 100 100 100 100 
			 Age at adoption (years) 3,500 3,800 3,800 3,700 3,300 100 100 100 100 100 
			 Under 1 220 220 210 200 150 6 6 6 5 5 
			 1 to 4 2,200 2,200 2,300 2,400 2,100 62 58 62 64 64 
			 5 to 9 960 1,100 1,100 950 880 27 30 28 26 27 
			 10 to 15 180 210 160 180 160 5 6 4 5 5 
			 16 and over 10 20 20 20 10 0 0 0 0 0 
			 (1) SSDA903 return on children looked after. (2). Historical data may differ from older publications. This is mainly due to the implementation of amendments and corrections sent by some local authorities after the publication date of previous materials. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table LAE1: Children looked after who were adopted during the years ending 31 March 2003 to 2007( 1) 
			  Numbers 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006( 2)  2007( 2) 
			  England 3,500 3,800 3,800 3,700 3,300 
			   
			 North East 260 230 280 250 240 
			 Darlington 5   5 20 
			 Durham 30 25 30 45 40 
			 Gateshead 15 25 25 20 20 
			 Hartlepool 10 5 5  5 
			 Middlesbrough 25 20 30 20 15 
			 Newcastle Upon Tyne 40 30 40 35 20 
			 North Tyneside 30 15 25 15 25 
			 Northumberland 20 15 25 15 20 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 15 15 5 15 10 
			 South Tyneside 15 30 30 30 30 
			 Stockton-On-Tees 10 15 15 15 15 
			 Sunderland 35 35 45 25 25 
			   
			  North West 550 570 620 620 490 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 10 25 25 20 10 
			 Blackpool 45 25 20 20 35 
			 Bolton 20 15 20 20 25 
			 Bury 20 30 15 20 20 
			 Cheshire 25 15 30 35 10 
			 Cumbria 30 50 45 50 25 
			 Halton 5 10 15 5 15 
			 Knowsley 15 15 20 20 15 
			 Lancashire 60 55 85 85 75 
			 Liverpool 65 55 70 30 20 
			 Manchester 80 60 80 60 55 
			 Oldham 20 20 15 15 20 
			 Rochdale 10 20 20 20 30 
			 Salford 25 35 35 40 20 
			 Sefton 15 20 25 35 15 
			 St Helens 15 20 15 15 10 
			 Stockport 10 20 25 25 20 
			 Tameside 20 20 20 25 10 
			 Trafford 10 10 10 15 - 
			 Warrington  15 10 10 10 
			 Wigan 15 10 15 35 20 
			 Wirral 20 25 15 25 20 
			   
			 Yo rkshire and the Humber 440 460 490 440 390 
			 Barnsley 20 15 25 15 20 
			 Bradford 50 55 55 65 45 
			 Calderdale 10 10 20 25 20 
			 Doncaster 35 35 50 20 35 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 15 10 15 20 25 
			 Kingston Upon Hull, City of 30 35 45 30 30 
			 Kirklees 30 35 20 40 25 
			 Leeds 75 80 80 55 65 
			 North East Lincolnshire 20 15 30 20 10 
			 North Lincolnshire 10 - 10 10 5 
			 North Yorkshire 30 20 25 25 20 
			 Rotherham 30 30 25 30 15 
			 Sheffield 50 70 45 50 50 
			 Wakefield 25 20 25 30 20 
			 York 10 20 20 10 10 
			   
			  East Midlands 330 350 340 340 230 
			 Derby 35 30 20 35 25 
			 Derbyshire 50 40 35 35 20 
			 Leicester 45 35 45 25 30 
			 Leicestershire 15 25 30 20 15 
			 Lincolnshire 65 35 55 80 35 
			 Northamptonshire 40 55 55 60 40 
			 Nottingham 40 55 35 55 30 
			 Nottinghamshire 45 75 55 35 30 
			 Rutland 0   0  
			   
			  West Midlands 410 420 410 390 370 
			 Birmingham 140 130 110 105 65 
			 Coventry 35 40 30 20 15 
			 Dudley 20 15 15 20 25 
			 Herefordshire 10 10 15 15  
			 Sandwell 20 15 20 25 30 
			 Shropshire 10 20 15 15  
			 Solihull 10 5 15 5 15 
			 Staffordshire 50 40 30 45 40 
			 Stoke-On-Trent 30 20 40 20 30 
			 Telford and Wrekin 10 10 15 15 10 
			 Walsall 25 25 35 40 45 
			 Warwickshire 20 25 25 20 30 
			 Wolverhampton 15 25 25 25 40 
			 Worcestershire 20 40 20 20 25 
			   
			  East of England 310 360 340 370 380 
			 Bedfordshire 25 25 15 20 20 
			 Cambridgeshire 15 20 20 25 25 
			 Essex 90 75 110 90 75 
			 Hertfordshire 45 70 45 60 60 
			 Luton 15 40 15 25 20 
			 Norfolk 40 40 45 60 50 
			 Peterborough 25 20 10 20 15 
			 Southend-on-Sea 10 5 10 15 20 
			 Suffolk 35 55 60 50 75 
			 Thurrock 10 15 15 5 15 
			   
			  London 480 570 520 530 490 
			 Inner London 240 300 250 300 260 
			 Camden 20 20 10 15 5 
			 City of London 0 0 0 0 - 
			 Hackney 15 30 25 25 30 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 15 20 15 10 15 
			 Haringey 10 15 15 20 15 
			 Islington 30 20 20 35 25 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 10 15 10 10 15 
			 Lambeth 15 20 20 30 15 
			 Lewisham 20 35 15 35 15 
			 Newham 20 25 30 15 25 
			 Southwark 35 35 30 20 20 
			 Tower Hamlets 15 25 15 25 35 
			 Wandsworth 15 20 15 35 20 
			 Westminster 15 20 25 20 20 
			   
			  Outer London 240 270 270 230 230 
			 Barking and Dagenham  15 15 20 15 
			 Barnet 20 15 15 10 10 
			 Bexley 10 15 15 5 5 
			 Brent 10 15 10 10 10 
			 Bromley 20 10 25 15 15 
			 Croydon 20 30 10 15 15 
			 Ealing 25 25 25 20 20 
			 Enfield 5 15 15 15 15 
			 Greenwich 40 35 40 15 20 
			 Harrow 5 10 - 5 - 
			 Havering 10 10 10 5 10 
			 Hillingdon 15 15 10 10 15 
			 Hounslow 25 10 25 20 30 
			 Kingston Upon Thames5  
			 Merton 5 10 10 10 10 
			 Redbridge 10 10  10 5 
			 Richmond Upon Thames 10   10 10 
			 Sutton 0 10 10 10  
			 Waltham Forest  15 10 10 15 
			   
			  South East 500 510 510 450 420 
			 Bracknell Forest  
			 Brighton and Hove 20 30 25 35 30 
			 Buckinghamshire 20 25 20 10 10 
			 East Sussex 50 40 40 40 40 
			 Hampshire 40 50 70 50 50 
			 Isle of Wight 10  5 10  
			 Kent 110 135 115 95 90 
			 Medway Towns 25 25 25 30 20 
			 Milton Keynes 10 15 20 10 20 
			 Oxfordshire 30 25 35 30 15 
			 Portsmouth 10 15 10 10 10 
			 Reading 15 10 10 20 10 
			 Slough 15 10 5 10 15 
			 Southampton 30 30 25 15 20 
			 Surrey 50 45 45 50 40 
			 West Berkshire 10 5 10   
			 West Sussex 40 40 40 20 35 
			 Windsor and Maidenhead 10 
			 Wokingham   0   
			   
			  South West 270 290 270 290 300 
			 Bath and North East Somerset  5   10 
			 Bournemouth 15 15 10 5 15 
			 Bristol, City of 45 30 30 25 25 
			 Cornwall 35 35 35 35 50 
			 Devon 35 30 35 40 30 
			 Dorset 15 15 10 15 10 
			 Gloucestershire 30 25 20 30 25 
			 Isles Of Scilly 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North Somerset  15 15 10 10 
			 Plymouth 20 25 35 35 35 
			 Poole  10 10  5 
			 Somerset 20 30 20 35 30 
			 South Gloucestershire 1010 
			 Swindon 10 20 15 20 15 
			 Torbay  15 10 15 10 
			 Wiltshire 20 20 15 10 15 
			 (1) Historical data may differ from older publications. This is mainly due to the implementation of amendments and corrections sent by some local authorities after the publication date of previous materials. (2) Special guardianship orders came into force on 30 December 2005.  Source:  SSDA903 return on children looked after.

HEALTH

Adoption

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many children aged under six months were registered for adoption in each year since 1978;
	(2)  how many adoptions there were in each year since 1978, broken down by  (a) age of those adopted and  (b) local authority area.

Kevin Brennan: I have been asked to reply.
	Information about the number of children who have adoption as part of their plan is not collected centrally.
	Data on the age at adoption of children looked after who were adopted during the years ending 31 March 2003-07 are shown as follows in table 1. Data on the number of children looked after adopted during the years ending 31 March 2003-07 by local authority area has been placed in the House of Commons Library (table LAE1).
	The information is taken from tables E1 and LAE1 of the Statistical First Release (SFR 27/2007) entitled Children Looked After in England (including adoption and care leavers) year ending 31 March 2007. The SFR is located at:
	http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000741/index.shtml
	Table 1 can be found with the additional Excel tables supplementing SFR27/2007 on the website. Table LAE1 can be found within the second set of 32 additional tables.
	
		
			  Table 1: Looked after children adopted during the years ending 31 March by age at adoption 2003 to 2007( 1,2) England 
			   Number  Percentage 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			 All children looked after adopted(1) 3,500 3,800 3,800 3,700 3,300 100 100 100 100 100 
			
			 Age at adoption (years) 3,500 3,800 3,800 3,700 3,300 100 100 100 100 100 
			 Under 1 220 220 210 200 150 6 6 6 5 5 
			 1 to 4 2,200 2,200 2.300 2,400 2,100 62 58 62 64 64 
			 5 to 9 960 1,100 1,100 950 880 27 30 23 26 27 
			 10 to 15 180 210 160 180 160 5 6 4 5 5 
			 16 and over 10 20 20 20 10 0 0 0 0 0 
			 (1) Source: SSDA903 return on children looked after. (2) Historical data may differ from older publications. This is mainly due to the implementation of amendments and corrections sent by some local authorities after the publication date of previous materials.

Dental Services: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was charged for NHS treatment by dentists in the Peterborough Primary Care Trust area in each year since May 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: Information about national health service primary dental care expenditure from 1997-98 to 2005-06 is available in the report NHS Expenditure for General Dental Services and Personal Dental Services: England 1997-98 to 2005-06, published in March 2008, copies of which have already been placed in the Library and are also available on the Information Centre for health and social care's (IC's) website at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dentalexpend1997to2006
	The report includes information on primary dental care expenditure by primary care trust (PCT) and strategic health authority (SHA) for 1997-98 to 2005-06 at Tables A1 and B1 of Annex 3. Table A1 relates to 'gross' expenditure and table B1 relates to 'net' expenditure. 'Gross' expenditure refers to the full payments recorded; 'net' expenditure reflects these payments to the NHS after the deduction of income from NHS dental charges paid by patients.
	This information is based on the old contractual arrangements which were in place up to and including 31 March 2006. Further notes to aid interpretation of the information are shown in the 'Contents and Notes' page of Annex 3.
	Information on NHS patient charges in England for 2006-07 is available in Table D3 of Annex 3 of the NHS Dental Statistics for England 2006-07 report. Information is provided at PCT and SHA level, and is based on the new contractual arrangements introduced on 1 April 2006. This report, published in August 2007, has already been placed in the Library and is also available in the IC's website at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dental0607.
	Patient charge data for 2007-08 is not yet available.

Dental Services: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many Band 3 treatments were carried out by NHS dentists in the Peterborough Primary Care Trust area in each quarter since January 2005.

Ann Keen: The classification of courses of treatment (CoTs) into bands was introduced with the new dental contractual arrangements on 1 April 2006. It is therefore not possible to provide the information requested prior to April 2006.
	Information on the number of band 3 CoTs, in England, for the first two quarters of 2007-08 are available in tables A1 and A2 of annex 4 of the NHS Dental Statistics for England: Quarter 3: 31 December 2007 report. Information is provided by strategic health authority (SHA) and by primary care trust (PCT).
	Information for quarter three of 2007-08 is available in table A1 of annex 3 of this report. Information is provided by SHA and PCT. Copies of this report, published in June 2008, have already been placed in the Library and are also available on the Information Centre for health and social care's (IC's) website at
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dentalstats0708q3
	Information on the number of band 3 CoTs for 2006-07 is available in table A2 of annex 3 of the NHS Dental Statistics for England: 2006-07 report. This shows the total number of CoTs for the year. Copies of this report, published in August 2007, have already been placed in the Library and are also available on the IC's website at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dental0607
	More generally, there are now three standard charges for national health service dental treatment. This makes it easier to know how much may need to paid, and also helps ensure that charges are for NHS rather than private care.
	From 1 April 2008, NHS dental charges are:
	Band 1 course of treatment16.20:
	This covers an examination, diagnosis (e.g. X-rays), advice on how to prevent future problems, and a scale and polish if needed;
	Band 2 course of treatment44.60:
	This covers everything listed in band 1, plus any further treatment such as fillings, root canal work or extraction; and
	Band 3 course of treatment198.00:
	This covers everything listed in bands 1 and 2, plus crowns, dentures or bridges.

Dentistry: Graduates

Denis Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many students graduated from dental schools in the UK in each of the last five years; and how many of each graduation cohort are working in the NHS.

Ann Keen: Information for United Kingdom is as follows:
	
		
			   Number of UK dental graduates 
			 2003 709 
			 2004 739 
			 2005 753 
			 2006 771 
			 2007 800 
		
	
	Information is not available centrally on where these dentists are now working, but almost all new graduates undertake one year's vocational training in a dental practice with a major national health service commitment and generally it is some years before a newly qualified dentist can build up a significant private practice. Our reforms to NHS dentistry, which included new remuneration arrangements that allow dentists to spend longer with their patients, are intended to make NHS dentistry more attractive to new dentists.

Departmental Responsibilities

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many reviews of regulation  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies have conducted or commenced since July 2007; and in which areas.

Ben Bradshaw: Since July 2007, the Department has reviewed five policy areas that it is responsible for, which cover five specific pieces of regulations.
	The Department is putting systems in place to respond to the March 2008 White Paper Post-legislative scrutiny: the Government's Approach, copies of which are available in the Library.
	The revised Impact Assessment process, introduced in November 2007, has increased the focus on post implementation reviews.

Departmental Visits Abroad

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of overseas visits by each Minister in his Department has been since 1997.

Ben Bradshaw: Since 1999 the Government have published the total cost of all overseas travel by Ministers and a list of all overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers costing over 500. For information for the last financial year I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 25 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1112W. Details for the financial year 2007-08 will be published before the summer recess and will include details of overseas visits undertaken by all Ministers. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the 'Ministerial Code'.
	Information in respect of overseas visits by all Ministers for the period 1997-99 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Written Questions

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how long on average his Department took to answer  (a) ordinary written and  (b) named day questions in each of the last three years.

Ben Bradshaw: Information on average times could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	The Department aims to reply to all questions promptly and the information in the following tables gives details of named day questions answered on the day specified and ordinary written questions answered within five and 10 working days.
	
		
			  Named day questions 
			   Number of named day questions  Number answered on the day specified  Percentage answered on the day specified 
			 2005 1,299 293 16 
			 2006 1,714 906 56 
			 2007 1,426 855 60 
		
	
	
		
			  Ordinary written questions 
			   Number of ordinary written questions  Number answered within five working days  Percentage answered within working five days  Number answered within 10 working days  Percentage answered within 10 working days 
			 2005 6,534 573 9 3,200 49 
			 2006 7,544 604 8 3,324 44 
			 2007 6,700 1,016 15 3,397 51

Doctors: Housing

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued to NHS trusts on the future use of accommodation units formerly provided free of charge to junior doctors; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: On 30 July 2007, NHS Employers issued guidance to NHS trusts reflecting the Department's view that trusts should maintain existing arrangements and continue to provide free accommodation until 30 July 2008 for all first year junior doctors. The use of accommodation units is a matter for trusts to decide locally, but it remains a contractual requirement that first year junior doctors should have accommodation provided without charge if they are contractually required to be resident.

Ipsos MORI

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) title and  (b) date was of each report produced for his Department by Ipsos MORI in the last 12 months.

Ben Bradshaw: Ipsos MORI produced the following reports for the Department in the period June 2007 to May 2008:
	
		
			  Report  Date 
			 Access to Primary Care Tracker Wave 18 June 2007 
			 Stakeholder Research Programme July 2007 
			 Attitudes to Pandemic Flu National Framework June 2007 
			 NHS Desk Research Insight Project August 2007 
			 Public Perceptions of the NHS July 2007 August 2007 
			 Qualitative Research into Access to GP Practices September 2007 
			 Access to Primary Care Tracker Wave 19 October 2007 
			 Practice based commissioning: GP practice survey wave 1 October 2007 
			 Choice Omnibus Survey November 2007 
			 GP Satisfaction Among Ethnic Minority Groups November 2007 
			 Senior Stakeholder Survey (Quantitative) November 2007 
			 Long-Term Health Conditions December 2007 
			 NHS Choices evaluation - public tracker survey (benchmark and one tracker) January 2008 
			 Public Perceptions of the NHS, December 2007 January 2008 
			 Practice based commissioning: GP practice survey wave 2 January 2008 
			 Access to Primary Care Tracker Wave 20 March 2008 
			 Patient Experience Survey - Pilot Study March 2008 
			 Practice based commissioning: GP practice survey wave 3 April 2008 
			 Pandemic Flu - Engagement and Communication Plan April 2008 
			 NHS Staff Survey Analysis May 2008 
			 Pandemic Flu Communications May 2008 
			 Patient Choice Omnibus May 2008 
			 Public Perceptions of the NHS March 2008 May 2008

Medical Records: Databases

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what restrictions there are on the release of information from the secondary user's database; and what assessment he has made of the restrictions which will apply to prior transfer to the secondary user's database of information held by clinicians.

Ben Bradshaw: The release of patient-identifiable information from the secondary uses service database is subject to approval from the Patient Information Advisory Group (PIAG) which has a statutory role in approving access to patient information. Further restrictions are relating to the prior transfer of information held by clinicians arises from a secondary uses subgroup, established by the Care Record Development Board in March 2006, to assess the issues around uses of patient-identifiable data for purposes other than direct patient care. Their report was published in August 2007, copies have been placed in the Library and are also available on the connections for health website at:
	www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/crdb/workstreams/secusesreport.pdf.

Medical Treatments: Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many exceptional funding requests for treatment were  (a) approved and  (b) declined by primary care trusts in each financial year since 2002-03.

Ben Bradshaw: The information requested is not held centrally.
	It is for primary care trusts (PCTs) to commission services on behalf of their populations and to make decisions locally on which treatments to fund, taking into account all relevant circumstances and their statutory responsibilities and the principles of administrative law set out by the courts, particularly in relation to funding policies and whether to fund treatment in exceptional circumstances.
	The draft NHS Constitution makes clear the patient's right to expect local decisions on funding for drugs, for which National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance is not available, to be made rationally following proper consideration of the evidence. To underpin this, the Government will require PCTs to put in place clear and transparent arrangements both for local decision-making on funding of new drugs and for considering exceptional funding requests, and to publish information on those arrangements. Where the local NHS decides not to fund a treatment, the patient and clinician can expect an explanation.

Medical Treatments: Lasers

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  which clinical and patient support bodies  (a) support and  (b) oppose his Department's proposals to deregulate Class 3B and 4 lasers and intense light sources;
	(2)  which individuals and organisations have responded to Question 3.3 of the consultation paper Private and voluntary healthcare: Care Standards Act 2000. Regulations and national minimum standards  (a) in support of and  (b) in opposition to deregulation of Class 3B and 4 lasers and intense light sources.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department recently held a public consultation on proposed changes to the Private and Voluntary Healthcare Regulations, including proposed changes to the regulation of class 3B and 4 lasers and intense pulsed light sources. This consultation ended on 10 June 2008. The information requested will form part of our consultation response, and we expect to publish the response by the end of summer 2008.

Medicine: Graduates

Denis Murphy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many students from medical schools in the UK have graduated in each of the last five years; and how many of each graduation cohort are working in the NHS.

Ann Keen: The number of students who have graduated from medical schools in the United Kingdom in each of the last five years for which we have data is shown in the following table. We do not have the number from each graduation cohort who are working in the national health service. However, the following table shows the number of foundation programme 1/house officers working in the NHS for England as of 30 September for each year.
	
		
			   Number of UK graduates( 1)  Number of foundation programme 1/house officers in England( 2) 
			 2003 4,641 4,003 
			 2004 4,805 4,273 
			 2005 5,176 4,663 
			 2006 5,576 4,905 
			 2007 6,208 5,240 
			  Sources: (1) HEFCE Medical Returns, First Registrable Medical Qualification, output as of 31 July for each year. (2) The Information Centre for health and social care.

Morning Star

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many copies of the  Morning Star publication his Department and each of its agencies subscribes to each week; and at what cost.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department purchases three copies of the  Morning Star for Monday to Friday and two copies for Saturday at a current total cost of 10.20 a week. The Department's two executive agencies (the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency) do not purchase this publication.

NHS

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what representations he has received on the case for introducing an NHS constitution in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 27 February 2008,  Official Report, columns 1762-63W, on the NHS: reorganisation, what work is being carried out on the case for an NHS constitution; what discussions his Department has had with  (a) NHS staff,  (b) patient groups and  (c) others on the case for an NHS constitution; and on what dates.

Ivan Lewis: The draft national health service constitution presented for consultation builds on an extensive development process, including a literature review, discussions with patients, the public and staff, contributions from a wide range of experts and think-tanks, and a major deliberative event with stakeholders in February 2008. Early drafts of the constitution were tested with these stakeholders, with experts and with patients, the public and staff. Patient and public groups told us it was useful to summarise their key rights in one place.
	The research to establish a set of NHS-wide values involved over 9,000 staff and over 5,500 patients and members of the public, as well as evidence from existing surveys of over 1 million patients.

NHS Interim Management and Support

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans the NHS Interim Management and Support will be established, as referred to on page 4 of his Department's document, Developing the NHS Performance Regime, published on 4 June 2008; what budget will be provided to NHS Interim Management and Support in  (a) 2009-10 and  (b) 2010-11; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: The NHS Interim Management and Support Programme is in a 'proof of concept' stage until the end of this financial year, when it will be fully evaluated and the steering group will make a recommendation to the 10 strategic health authorities on a way forward.

NHS: Chilvers McRae Healthcare

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department's commercial directorate has made of the range of services provided to the NHS by Chilvers McRae.

Ben Bradshaw: All bidders who participate in procurements run or supported by the Department are subject to a rigorous assessment process across a range of work streams, including legal, clinical, financial and workforce.
	A key role of the Commercial Directorate is to support primary care trusts (PCTs) in their procurements, and it is up to the PCTs to take a considered view on services being offered by providers.

NHS: ICT

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the total lifetime length of each of the Connecting for Health systems.

Ben Bradshaw: The National Programme for IT, which is being implemented by the Department's NHS Connecting for Health Agency, exists to provide the information systems and services the national health service needs to deliver modern effective health care to patients and to improve clinical quality and safety. The systems are being developed using standards and architecture that enable them to operate to high levels of resilience and service availability for the foreseeable future and can be upgraded to accommodate new requirements. As is normal practice, technology components are regularly refreshed to keep pace with new developments. The existing contracts for deployment of national applications and local systems, currently have end dates variously between 2009 and 2015.

NHS: ICT

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 23 June 2008,  Official Report, column 121W, on NHS ICT, what recent estimate he has made of the minimum annual revenue funding required to keep the systems established through the NHS national programme for information technology running beyond 2010-11.

Ben Bradshaw: The revenue beyond 2010-11 required to support systems delivered by the National Programme for IT will be dependent on the number and type of deployments per contract and, in some cases, on new or extended contracts. This falls into a future spending review period and it is not possible to make a meaningful estimate now because of the number of variables involved.

NHS: Private Sector

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS patients resident in the London borough of Havering have been referred to a private hospital for an operation in the last three years.

Ben Bradshaw: Information is not collected in the format requested. Information is available on national health service-funded first finished consultant episodes (FFCEs) for Havering Primary Care Trust (PCT), carried out by United Kingdom independent sector and overseas providers, including independent sector treatment centres (ISTCs).
	The following table shows this information for the last three years.
	
		
			  Independent sector inpatient activity, Havering PCT, 2005-06 to 2007-08 (Commissioner based) 
			   General and Acute 
			   Elective FFCEs carried out by UK independent sector and overseas providers  Elective FFCEs carried out by ISTCs 
			 2005-06 83  
			 2006-07 432  
			 2007-08 3,570 3,179 
			  Note: Patients may not be resident at Havering PCT, but registered with general practitioners in the Havering PCT area.  Source: Department of Health quarterly activity return, local delivery plan return, Department of Health monthly activity return, monthly monitoring return

NHS: Procurement

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what comparative information about  (a) commissioners and  (b) providers will be published by the Care Quality Commission, as referred to by the Chief Executive of the NHS on page 4 of his Department's document, Developing the NHS Performance Regime, published on 4th June 2008.

Ben Bradshaw: The Health and Social Care Bill, introduced to Parliament on 9 November 2007, sets out the proposed functions of the Care Quality Commission. Should the Bill receive Royal Assent, the Department will work with the Care Quality Commission to determine what comparative information will be published.

Post-neonatal Mortality

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department plans to take to reduce the mortality rate of babies born prematurely.

Ann Keen: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Blaenau Gwent (Mr. Davies) on 13 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 584-85W.

Xansa

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contracts his Department has signed with Xansa plc in the last five years.

Ben Bradshaw: Historically, information on contracts let by the Department has not been held centrally. The information requested could be obtained only from direct contact with individual business units and would result in disproportionate costs.
	From 1 July 2008 an integrated Business Management Service will create a central store for all new contracts.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Adult Education

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  how many publicly-funded adult education classes were provided in each year since 2001;
	(2)  how many adults participated in publicly-funded adult education classes in each year since 2001.

Bill Rammell: holding answer 7 July 2008
	Total Government investment in the post-16 further education system has increased by 52 per cent. in real terms from 1997 to 2007. Over the next three years, Government investment in adult learning will increase by 17 per cent. reaching 3.6 billion per year by 2010-11.
	Our planned and continuing strategy is to realign funding from a high number of very short and low quality courses to qualifications such as Skills for Life, full level 2 and full level 3 that offer the greatest opportunity for adults to gain the skills for employability and further progression in learning. This includes a full range of first steps and progression programmes below level 2 progression programmes encouraging adults back into learning.
	But we understand that as well as increasing skills, education is also about meeting the basic human desire for intellectual stimulation. That is why we have safeguarded 210 million each year through to 2010/11 to support informal adult learning. Through our recent consultation, we have led discussion on a new vision for informal adult learning for the 21st century.
	The funding payable to a college or provider is based on the provision undertaken by individual learners, therefore information is collected at individual learner level. Information on the number of adult education courses offered by colleges/providers is not collected.
	The following table sets out the total number of LSC-funded adult learners aged 19+ in England from 2003/04, the earliest year for which comparable data is available. The figures cover learners enrolled in further education, work-based learning, adult safeguarded learning (formerly adult and community learning) and Train to Gain provision.
	
		
			  Number of LSC funded learners aged 19 or over, 2003/04 to 2006/07 
			  Academic year  Number of LSC funded learners aged 19+ 
			 2003/04 4,587,390 
			 2004/05 4,546,910 
			 2005/06 3,886,040 
			 2006/07 3,166,270 
			  Note: Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: Learning and Skills Council individualised learner record.

Apprentices: Bexley

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much funding was allocated for the development and maintenance of apprenticeships in Bexley in each year since 2005.

David Lammy: Information on Learning and Skills Council (LSC) funding allocated to London East LSC for apprenticeships is provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Table: London East LSC apprenticeships funding allocation 
			   Apprenticeships funding allocation ( million) 
			 2005/06 14.2 
			 2006/07 13.7 
			 2007/08 13.5 
			  Source: Learning and Skills Council 
		
	
	Although funding has reduced, apprenticeship starts are projected to rise above the 2006/07 volume of 2,150. Completion rates are also improving but at 52 per cent. need to improve significantly to match the national average.

Departmental Buildings

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills on which buildings occupied by his Department's agencies and non-departmental public bodies the lease will be due for renewal in the next four years.

David Lammy: The information requested on agencies and non-departmental bodies is not held centrally and to collate it could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Conferences

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will list the conferences hosted by his Department in each of the last two years; and what the cost was of each conference.

David Lammy: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills was created as a result of Machinery of Government changes on 28 June, 2007. Since that date the Department has hosted the conferences as shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Date  Conference  Cost () 
			 September 2007 Futures Analysts Network joint meeting with the CBI Business Perspectives on the Future 32,318 
			 17 October 2007 Foresight Tackling Obesities: Future Choices Main Launch Event 8,620 
			 6 November 2007 Foresight Tackling Obesities: Future Choices Conference, at Institute of Child Health 10,000 
			 November 2007 Futures Analysts Network Where Next in Government Futures 13,672 
			 February 2008 Futures Analysts Network Meeting The role of futures thinking in Government Strategy 23,125 
			 May 2008 Futures Analysts Network Meeting Across the OceansBritain's Future Abroad 23,233 
			 2008 Foresight's Co-sponsorship of the RIBA Futures Fair 8,000 
			 13 July 2007 Stakeholder event on the European Commission's Green Paper on the European Research Area 4,686.30 
			 26/27 November 2007 The UK/Korean STIP (Science, Technology and Innovation Partnership) 11,450.47 
			 13 June 2007 Peer review of Government commissioned research 7,500 
			 29 Nov 2007 Embedding the effective management and use of Science and Research 7,500 
			 27 March 2008 Information flows within Science Advisory Committees 7,500 
			 5 September 2007 Consultation on the review of the Code of Practice for Science Advisory Committees 7,500 
			 17-18 May 2007 The Bologna Ministerial Conference 225,294 
			 7-8 Feb 2008 Strengthening Partnerships between Professional Bodies, Sector Skills Councils and Higher Education Institutions 106,717.02 
			 18 June 2008 Higher Education at Work, High Skills: High Value consultation 97,818.75 
			 January 2007 FE Futures 2025 Event 21,596.00 
			 February 2007 Leitch/FE Reform event 127,548.00 
			 February 2007 The Skills Challenge deliberative debate 347,059.00 
			 March 2007 Internal: FESG DD/TL awayday 4,982.00 
			 March 2007 Skills for Families conference 50,000.00 
			 June 2007 Skills Pledge launch 102,008.00 
			 July 2007 Internal: FESG DD/TL awayday 6,615.00 
			 November 2007 Internal: FESG all staff awayday 28,404.00 
			 November 2007 National Skills for Life conferences 2007 (three events) 299,993.00 
			 January 2008 Getting the Vocational Qualifications System right: a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' 50,246.00 
			 January 2008 Ready to Work conference 150,000.00 
			 February 2008 FE colleges scenario planning event 39,195.00 
			 February 2008 Internal: FESG DD/TL awayday 4,152.00 
			 March 2008 Consultation event on FE providers' role in promoting community cohesion, fostering shared values and preventing violent extremism 4,830.00 
			 March 2008 Skills for Families conference 50,000.00 
			 During March 2008 Raising Expectations Consultation Events Series 65,000.00 
			 June 2008 Informal Adult Learning Consultation Event (Citizen's Forum) 105,000.00 
			  Investors in People annual conference 0 
			 30 April 2008 DIUS All Staff Conference 124,417.38

Departmental Waste

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what steps his Department has taken to reduce the volume of waste produced by it and sent to landfill in each of the last two years.

David Lammy: Estates and related facilities management services are provided on behalf of this Department by the Department of Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and the Department for Children Families and Schools, and answers supplied by those Departments will cover ours as well.

Food

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much was spent by his Department on  (a) food and  (b) food of British origin in each of the last five years.

David Lammy: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills was established under Machinery of Government changes in June 2007. The Department do not hold records at this level of detail, to answer the question would be at disproportionate cost.

Food

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills from which five countries of origin the greatest amount of food was procured by his Department in the last year for which figures are available; and what the  (a) cost and  (b) quantity procured was in each case.

David Lammy: The Department does not hold records at this level of detail, to answer the question would be at disproportionate cost.

Higher Education: Admissions

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  what information his Department holds on the number of 18-year-olds with  (a) an academic and  (b) a vocational Level 3 qualification who did not enter higher education by the age of 19 years who moved on to (i) jobs without training, (ii) jobs with training, (iii) jobs with apprenticeships, (iv) full-time education at Level 3 or below, (v) unemployment and (vi) economic inactivity in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what proportion of 18-year-olds with  (a) academic and  (b) vocational Level 3 qualifications entered (i) full-time higher education and (ii) part-time higher education by the age of 19 years in the latest period for which figures are available.

Bill Rammell: The proportion of maintained school pupils who gained one or more GCE A-levels in 2003/04, who entered a full-time higher education course at a UK higher education institution aged 18 in 2004/05 or aged 19 in 2005/06, was 73.9 per cent. The proportion who entered a part-time course was 1.6 per cent.
	The proportion of maintained school pupils who took one or more VCE A-levels in 2003/04, who entered a full-time higher education course at a UK higher education institution aged 18 in 2004/05 or aged 19 in 2005/06, was 55.3 per cent. The proportion who entered a part-time course was 1.9 per cent.
	Information on the employment status of those pupils with level 3 qualifications who do not go to higher education is not currently available.

Higher Education: Medicine

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the answer of 11 June 2008,  Official Report, column 321W, on higher education: medicine, which university medical schools are participating in widening participation schemes; what financial provision has been extended to them by the Government in respect of such schemes; what criteria or guidance has been laid down by the Government for such schemes; and how many students entered foundation years prior to undertaking medical degrees as a result of such schemes in the latest period for which figures are available, broken down by university.

Bill Rammell: The Government are determined to widen participation so that everyone with the potential to benefit from higher education has the opportunity to do so. The main scheme for widening participation is Aimhigher which aims to raise the attainment levels of young people, their aspirations towards university and improve progression. Most activities are not subject-specific, although some activities are designed to raise awareness of and encourage progression to specific subjects such as medicine.
	The total Aimhigher budget is 85 million in 2008-09. Guidance for Aimhigher Partnerships was published in February 2008 and is available on the Aimhigher website at:
	http://www.aimhigher.ac.uk/practitioner
	Several medical schools run schemes to encourage applications from bright students from disadvantaged or non-traditional backgrounds. These are entirely a matter for the individual medical schoolno specific Government funding or guidance is provided for these schemes, and data on admissions, including foundation years, are not collected centrally.

Students: Loans

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what the reasons are for using the retail price index to calculate interest due on student loans; and if he will consider the use of the consumer price index instead.

Bill Rammell: Parliament determined the interest rate to be paid on student loans. The principle is that borrowers should repay the same amount, in real terms, as they borrowed. To achieve this, the rate of interest is based upon the retail price index (RPI), although the precise method for determining the rate of interest varies depending on the type of loan.
	The interest rate for older 'mortgage style' (MS) loans is determined in accordance with the Education (Student Loans) Regulations 1998 which prescribe the rate of interest to be equal to the RPI so long as that index is published. This basis for calculating the interest rate is also set out in the MS Loan Consumer Credit Act agreements, the key terms of which cannot be altered retrospectively.
	From 1998/99, income contingent repayment (ICR) loans replaced MS loans for new borrowers. These are 'low interest loans' exempt under section 16(5) (b) of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. Borrowers only repay when they earn more than 15,000 a year, at an affordable rate of 9 per cent. of earnings above this threshold. Interest is calculated in accordance with the Education (Student Support) Regulations 2007, as amended, and is the lower of March's RPI or 1 per cent. above the highest of the base rates published by the banks listed in Regulation 4 of the Consumer Credit (Exempt Agreements) Order 1989.
	Accordingly, there is potential for the interest rates for the two types of loans to differ but, to date, the RPI rate has consistently applied to both types of loans since their inception.
	The Government have no plans to abandon the consistent use of RPI in calculating interest on student loans. There is no single measure of inflation that is appropriate for all purposes. RPI is an index that is still widely used as the basis for uprating a range of state benefits and entitlements. Over time, it is a measure of inflation which is fair, both to taxpayers, and to student loans borrowers. The cost of providing student loans is already heavily subsidised by the taxpayer, enabling the average interest rate on student loans, to date, to be below 3 per cent. per annumsignificantly lower than for commercial loans.

Vocational Education: Finance

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  what the planned level of expenditure on sector compacts for  (a) engineering,  (b) construction,  (c) hospitality and  (d) process manufacturing is for (i) 2008-09, (ii) 2009-10 and (iii) 2010-11;
	(2)  what the estimated level of planned expenditure on sector compacts for  (a) engineering,  (b) construction,  (c) hospitality and  (d) process manufacturing will be as a proportion of Train to Gain funding in (i) 2008-09, (ii) 2009-10 and (iii) 2010-11;
	(3)  what additional sector compacts he expects to be agreed in the next 12 months.

David Lammy: Sector compacts are a 'something for something' deal between Government and employers to drive up the skills of the work force in each sector to ensure that our nation has the world class skills it needs to meet the challenges of the global economy. In return for some flexibility in, and enhancement to, the core Train to Gain offer, the employers in each sector commit to increasing their engagement with Train to Gain and their investment in the skills of their work force.
	Of a total Train to Gain budget of approximately 2.5 billion over the three year period 2008-09 to 2010-11, the planned level of Train to Gain expenditure through compacts for:
	(i) Engineering (through the SEMTA compact) is 65 million, 2.6 per cent. of the total Train to Gain budget for the period to 2010-11;
	(ii) Construction (through the ConstructionSkills compact) is 133 million, 5.3 per cent. of the total Train to Gain budget;
	(iii) Hospitality (through the People 1st compact) is 112 million, 4.5 per cent. of the total Train to Gain budget;
	(iv) Process manufacturing (through the Proskills compact), is 62 million, 2.5 per cent. of the total Train to Gain budget.
	We are now working to realise these compacts through Train to Gain; the profile of spend over the coming years will depend on the rate at which employers come forward to take up the enhanced offer we are making available in Train to Gain through compacts. The LSC are currently working with each SSC concerned to develop spend profiles, which may run beyond the period to 2010-11.
	It is important to note that some of the commitments agreed in compacts, such as the cost of additional apprenticeship places, will not be funded through Train to Gain directly but will draw on other, existing budgets. Our aim is to agree compacts for every SSC sector that wants one, and who can deliver a significant increase in demand for skills from employers to ensure that we are addressing the nation's skills needs. We will also explore the potential for developing compacts with key partners around large cross-sector projects such as the London 2012 Olympics.

Vocational Training: Equality

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what his policy is on the promotion of equality in skills learning in sectors where one sex has traditionally been under-represented; and to which career sectors this policy has been applied.

David Lammy: The then Department for Education and Skills, published its first Gender Equality Scheme (GES) in May 2007 setting out positive steps to promote gender equality. Work is now in hand to develop a Single Equality Scheme for DIUS, for publication in 2008.
	Our overall approach to promoting equality in skills learning is to develop our understanding of participation and attainment rates across different groups of learners and to develop a targeted strategy to better engage those groups under-represented. In addition we seek to assess the impact of all our new policies on different groups, including gender, in order to address any areas of under-representation.
	As Minister for Skills I announced on 7 March that 5 million per year was being made available to the UK Commission for Employment and Skills to continue the Women and Work Sector Pathways Initiative for the next three years. The intention is to help up to 5,000 women each year. We are focussing on sectors, sub-sectors and occupations where there are specific skills gaps and shortages and under-representation of women.
	The UK Commission is contracting in 2008-09 with five Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) which have ran projects in previous years to maintain the momentum of this work. The UK Commission has also issued a Prospectus requesting expressions of interest from all the other SSCs.
	The continuing SSC projects cover the following sectors:
	construction
	environmental and land-based industries
	fashion and textiles
	property services, housing, cleaning services and facilities management
	retail motor industry
	In 'World-class Apprenticeships' we committed to look at how we can address inequalities including the gender disparity that exists primarily in the 'traditional' Apprenticeship sectors. For example, in 2006-07 only 1 per cent. of construction and 4 per cent. of engineering Apprenticeship starts were women, compared to over 90 per cent. of people starting Apprenticeships in the care and hair and beauty sectors. Some of the practical measures we planned include:
	positive action and targeted funding support for learners making non-traditional career choices;
	pilots to drive 'critical mass' of learners in non-traditional occupations to encourage more such applications;
	'Super-mentors' to be appointed to support a typical apprentice through their experience;
	and LSC contractual minimum pay requirements to be fully enforced pending a future investigation of apprenticeship wages by the Low Pay Commission.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Africa

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what offices his Department has in each African country; and how many staff work in each office.

Gillian Merron: The Department for International Development has offices in 20 countries in Africa, with a total of 593 staff, made up of 206 UK home civil servants and 387 local staff employed on SAIC (staff appointed in country) terms, located as follows:
	
		
			  DFID offices and staff in Africa 
			  Country  UK staff  Local staff  Total 
			 Burundi 3 3 6 
			 DRC 17 27 44 
			 Ethiopia 17 34 51 
			 Ghana 9 21 30 
			 Kenya 13 37 50 
			 Malawi 14 33 47 
			 Mozambique 10 22 32 
			 Nigeria 27 45 72 
			 Rwanda 11 16 27 
			 Sierra Leone 11 19 30 
			 South Africa 12 21 33 
			 Sudan 21 11 32 
			 Tanzania 9 21 30 
			 Uganda 12 29 41 
			 Zambia 10 22 32 
			 Zimbabwe 6 22 28 
		
	
	
		
			  DFID staff are based in FCO posts or other locations in the following countries 
			  Country  UK staff  Local staff  Total 
			 Angola 1 1 2 
			 Gambia 1 3 4 
			 Lesotho 1 0 1 
			 Liberia 1 0 1 
			 Totals 206 387 593 
		
	
	There are four offices in Nigeria, in Abuja, Kano, Lagos and Enugu. There are two offices in Sudan, in Khartoum and in Juba, which is a joint-donor operation.

Africa: Conflict Prevention

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding his Department plans to provide to the Africa Conflict Prevention Pool in 2008-09.

Douglas Alexander: In April 2008 the Africa and Global Conflict Prevention Pools (the ACPP and GCPP) were merged to form a single combined Conflict Prevention Pool (CPP). The CPP is managed jointly by the Department for International Development (DFID), the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Ministry of Defence (MOD). Its budget is voted on separately by Parliament to support the Government's conflict prevention policy in line with the tri-departmental public service agreement (PSA) on conflict.
	The CPP is divided into six regional and two thematic programmes, including a dedicated Africa Programme, reflecting priorities set by Ministers through NSID(OD) (the Overseas and Defence Ministerial Subcommittee of the National Security, International Relations and Development Committee). The Africa Programme has an initial allocation of 62.5 million for financial year 2008-09 from the total CPP budget of 112 million.

Cocoa

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 18 June 2008,  Official Report, column 1036W, on cocoa: children, if he will make it his policy to seek a prohibition on the sale in the UK of chocolate made with cocoa farmed by trafficked children.

Shahid Malik: The Department for International Development (DFID) strongly condemns the use of trafficked labour in the production of cocoa and other industries. However, we believe the best way to raise labour standards is through capacity building and co-operation, and encouragement of business and governments, rather than trying to impose restrictions on trade. Ultimately, it is for individual governments to set and enforce their own labour standards, to protect workers in their own countries and provide a 'level playing field' for companies.
	DFID supports a range of initiatives to reduce the vulnerability of children to trafficking and to support fair and ethical supply chains for the chocolate and other industries. This includes promoting the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises which set down the employment standards that the Government expect UK companies to implement in their supply chains. It also includes supporting the Fairtrade Foundation and the Ethical Trading Initiative which requires its corporate members to adopt the ETI Base Code which includes not using child labour.

Cocoa

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 18 June 2008,  Official Report, column 1035W, on cocoa, what recent reports he has received of progress on the part of the International Cocoa Initiative towards achieving its goal to survey 50 per cent. of Cote d'Ivoire cocoa farms by July 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: The Department for International Development (DFID) has not received any report of the progress of the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) in surveying cocoa farms in Cote d'Ivoire. Our understanding is that the ICI is not involved in the survey process linked to the Cocoa (Harkin-Engel) protocol.
	As part of its commitment under the protocol, the government of Cote d'Ivoire published their report of the Initial Diagnostic National Survey of Labour in the Cocoa Production Industry on 26 June 2008.

Cocoa

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 18 June 2008,  Official Report, column 1035W, on cocoa: children, if he will support the Stop the Traffik campaign in the preparation and its forthcoming report, People shouldn't be bought and sold.

Shahid Malik: The Department for International Development (DFID) has not seen the Stop the Traffik report'People shouldn't be bought and sold'. However, we strongly agree with title statement of the report.
	Poverty is at the root of many contemporary forms of slavery and trafficking. DFID is working to eliminate poverty and reduce poor people's vulnerability to exploitation. DFID also, through its support of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the Ethical Trading Initiative, promotes the implementation, by businesses, of employment standards, such as not using child labour, in their supply chains.

Departmental Sick Pay

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  how much was paid in sick pay to staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) the non-departmental bodies for which it has responsibility in each of the last five years; what proportion of the annual staffing expenditure of each body this represented in each year; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the average duration of single periods of sick leave taken by staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) the non-departmental bodies for which it has responsibility was in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: Details at the level requested could not be provided without incurring disproportionate costs. However, data for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006-07 are available on the civil service website:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/statistics/sickness.asp

Departmental Sick Pay

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  how many staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) the non-departmental bodies for which it has responsibility have received sick pay for sick leave due to (i) stress and (ii) mental health and behavioural disorders in each of the last 10 years; what the average length of time was for which sick pay was paid in these cases; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what the average duration of single periods of sick leave taken by staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) the non-departmental bodies for which it has responsibility who gave (i) stress and (ii) mental health and behavioural disorders as the reason for their absence was in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  how many staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) the non-departmental bodies for which it has responsibility have taken sick days due to (i) stress and (ii) mental health and behavioural disorders in each of the last 10 years; what proportion of staff of each body this represented in each year; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  how many sick days were taken by employees in  (a) his Department and  (b) the non-departmental bodies for which it has responsibility due to (i) stress and (ii) mental health and behavioural disorders in each of the last 10 years; what proportion of sick days taken by staff of each body this figure represented in each case; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: Details at the level requested could not be provided without incurring disproportionate costs. However, data for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006-07 are available on the civil service website:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/statistics/sickness.asp
	Data for the most recent 12 month period for which details are available, show that in the period 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008:
	1,148 days were lost due to mental health and behavioural disorders and 982 days were lost due to stress. A total of 2,130 days;
	The 2,130 days represented absence by 57 staff, of which 32 recorded mental health and behavioural disorders, and 25 recorded stress;
	The 2,130 days represented 67 separate absences; the most common length of single period absence was for one day.
	The 2,130 days lost due to stress or mental health and behavioural disorders represents 0.5 per cent. of the total number of available working days for the 1,975 people employed by DFID during the year 2007-08.
	Total days lost to sick absence represented 2.3 per cent. of the total number of available working days for the 1,975 people employed by DFID during the year 2007-08.

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made on the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation scheme; what meetings officials in his Department have had on the scheme since its inception; what the  (a) current and  (b) planned funding for the scheme is; and if he will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: Over the last two years, Department for International Development (DFID) officials have attended key meetings of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and technical meetings with stakeholders and negotiating partners in the UK and internationally, to discuss Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD).
	A successful decision on REDD was reached at the UNFCCC conference in Bali in December 2007. The decision recognises that REDD should be part of a post-2012 climate agreement and sets out a process for establishing how to achieve this ahead of the 15th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC in Copenhagen, in 2009.
	Currently, the UK is contributing 15 million to the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility and 50 million to the Congo Basin Forest Fund. We have also provided 250,000 to support a Multi-Stakeholder Forestry Programme in Indonesia. The Prime Minister recently commissioned a review on financial mechanisms for reducing emissions from deforestation. We will consider how we can further support REDD activities in light of the findings.

Sub-Saharan Africa: Conflict Prevention

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will place a copy of the latest UK Sub-Saharan Strategy for Conflict Prevention in the Library.

Douglas Alexander: I shall place a copy of the UK Sub-Saharan Strategy for Conflict Prevention in the Library.

United Nations Population Fund

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions there have been between his Department and the United States Administration on funding for the United Nations Population Fund; and if he will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: The Department for International Development (DFID) has regular dialogue with all donors and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on funding for that organisation and on access for poor people in developing countries to reproductive health services. We continue to discuss with the United States effective and country-led approaches to sustainable development and poverty reduction.